Midnight Fight Killed Ekiti Graduands

The euphoria of graduation turned into a nightmare in Ikere-Ekiti on Sunday morning as a post-convocation party at the Emirate Hotel ended in the tragic death of two students and a hotel employee.

The victims, students of the Bamidele Olumilua University of Education, Science and Technology, Ikere-Ekiti (BOUESTI), had joined their peers to celebrate the completion of their degree programs following the institution’s convocation ceremony held on April 18. However, the celebration, which stretched into the early hours of Sunday, reportedly descended into chaos following a violent altercation.

According to preliminary reports from the Ekiti State Police Command, a heated argument broke out between two unidentified students during the revelry. The disagreement quickly escalated into a physical fight, causing panic among the large crowd of guests.

In the ensuing struggle to escape the premises, a massive stampede occurred. In the desperate rush for the exits, three people, two students and one staff member of the hotel, were trampled and crushed. They were later confirmed dead at the scene.

The Commissioner of Police, Ekiti State Command, CP Falade Adegoroye Michael, has expressed deep shock over the incident. In a statement released through the State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Sunday Abutu, the CP ordered an immediate and thorough investigation into the security lapses at the venue.

“The Command will leave no stone unturned in unraveling the circumstances surrounding this avoidable tragedy,” the statement read. The CP also extended his heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased while calling for calm among the student body.

Morgue and Autopsy The remains of the three victims have been evacuated and deposited at the morgue for autopsy. Meanwhile, the hotel premises remain under police surveillance as detectives work to identify the individuals whose fight triggered the fatal panic.

The university community has been thrown into mourning, with many questioning the safety protocols of off-campus parties, which frequently follow major academic milestones in the state.