How UNILAG final year student drowned in Lagos beach

UNILAG gate

Contrary to online claims that a University of Lagos student drowned while attempting a backflip, PUNCH Metro gathered that the deceased, Damilola Balogun, a 400-level student of the Department of Education, was swept away by ocean currents at a beach in Ibeju-Lekki.

Balogun, who was supposed to begin his teaching practice on Monday, was also the president-elect of the Nigerian Universities Education Students Association, UNILAG chapter.

Our correspondent learnt that Balogun had gone to the beach in the Idado community with other executive members for a handover get-together.

PUNCH Metro findings revealed that he was in the company of the outgoing executive members, the General Secretary, and a few colleagues when the tragedy struck on Thursday.

A close source of the deceased, who witnessed the incident but declined to identify his name, said Balogun ignored warnings to stay away from the rising ocean current.

The source explained, “What happened was that the current president-elect and other members went for a get-together with the immediate past executive members.

“The new president-elect had served as vice president in the outgoing administration, so he joined them for the handover party.

“They went to Akodo in Idado, where they spent the night. By Thursday afternoon, only the president-elect, the general secretary, and the outgoing vice president were still around.

“Around 2pm, after playing football, Balogun went towards the shoreline and asked the General Secretary to take pictures and videos of him.

“The General Secretary warned him that the ocean current was too strong, but Balogun insisted he wanted to ‘enjoy the village life’ a little longer.

“At some point, the General Secretary left him at the shoreline because he could no longer withstand the waves.