The National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, Southwest Zone D, has given its account of the circumstances surrounding the death of Osun State Polytechnic student Ademiju Ayeni following the recently concluded NANS JCC Osun convention in Osogbo.

Ayeni, an Estate Management student of Osun State Polytechnic, Iree, died after sustaining a stab wound following a disagreement involving some individuals around the convention venue.

NANS Southwest Coordinator, Comr. Josiah Adeyemo, said information available to the association indicated that Ayeni was allegedly stabbed after a brief fight outside the gate of the convention venue.

Adeyemo said the convention proceedings had been peaceful before the incident occurred.

He also described information reaching him as suggesting that the confrontation may have been cult-related, although the alleged attacker had not been identified.

The Osun State Police Command has not independently confirmed that the incident was cult-related.

Police spokesperson Abiodun Ojelabi, however, confirmed Ayeni’s death and said there had earlier been a disagreement during the convention at the NUJ Press Centre in Osogbo.

According to the police account, the disagreement was resolved and those involved dispersed.

Ayeni later complained of chest pain and, when examined, was discovered to have sustained a stab wound to his chest.

He was subsequently taken to a private hospital in Osogbo, where he was pronounced dead.

His remains were deposited at the morgue of the Osun State University Teaching Hospital, while police said an autopsy would be conducted.

The police had not publicly announced any arrest in connection with the death at the time of the latest report.

Some reports have described the incident as a stabbing at the NANS convention and cited unnamed participants who alleged that a member of the convention security committee attacked Ayeni while preventing him from gaining access to the venue.

That allegation has not been confirmed by the Osun State Police Command.

The account given by NANS Southwest places the alleged fight outside the gate, while the police account establishes that an earlier disagreement during the convention had already been resolved before the parties dispersed.

The precise location where Ayeni sustained the fatal wound therefore remains a matter for police investigation.

Following his death, the newly elected NANS JCC Osun leadership also issued a condolence statement to his family, friends and the Osun State Polytechnic community.

The statement was signed by Chairman-elect Comr. Keinde Ayokule Temiloluwa, popularly known as Kaywhytee; General Secretary-elect Comr. Odewale Favour Olatunde, popularly known as Oladex; and Public Relations Officer-elect Comr. Adediran Okikijesu.

The new leadership appealed for calm among students and warned against retaliation or the circulation of unverified accounts capable of heightening tension.

It also called for peace and urged relevant authorities to establish the circumstances surrounding Ayeni’s death.

The new JCC leadership emerged from the August 28 convention and was not the body under which preparations for the convention were originally conducted.

The convention had been organised under the Caretaker Committee of NANS JCC Osun Axis as part of the association’s leadership transition.

Police investigations and the planned autopsy are expected to provide further clarity on the cause and circumstances of Ayeni’s death.