The police command in Oyo State has launched an investigation into the death of a yet-to-be-identified teenage boy whose lifeless body was discovered at the University of Ibadan swimming pool on Thursday, March 26.

The Olympic-sized swimming pool is located within the Kunle Adepeju Memorial Students’ Union building within the institution.

In a statement on Saturday by the state police spokesperson, Ayanlade Olayinka, the command stated that the victim’s body had been evacuated from the scene to the General Hospital, Adeoyo, Ibadan.

The police spokesman said the institution’s chief security officer, Lasisi Oyekanmi, told the command that the victim, suspected to be between 14-15 years, was sighted on the surface of the swimming pool in the early hours of Thursday. 

“The Oyo State Police Command is aware of the report circulating in the media concerning the discovery of the body of an unidentified teenage boy at the University of Ibadan swimming pool on 26th March, 2027,” the statement said.

“Factually, information was received from the institution’s chief decurity officer that the body of the victim, aged about 14–15 years, was sighted on the surface of the swimming pool earlier that day,” it added.

Mr Olayinka noted that preliminary observations by detectives detached to the scene showed that blood oozed from the victim’s mouth and nose, while slight bruises were found on his nose. 

The spokesman added that items suspected to be the victim’s belongings, including a pair of shoes and a shirt, were found close to the pool, while bloodstains were also observed within the pavilion area.

Mr Olayinka said the teenage victim was confirmed dead on arrival at the hospital and was subsequently deposited at the mortuary.

“The case is being treated as a suspected murder, and the command has commenced a thorough investigation to unravel the circumstances surrounding the incident,” the police spokesman noted.

The command urged members of the public to remain calm and refrain from spreading unverified information as investigations proceed.

Commenting, the University of Ibadan Students’ Union President, Temidayo Adeboye, in a broadcast message obtained by the Peoples Gazette, clarified that the victim was not a student of the institution.

“Information available indicates that the individual involved is not a student of the University. Relevant authorities are currently handling the situation, and necessary investigations are ongoing,” Mr Adeboye said.

“We understand that this development may have caused concern among students. However, we kindly urge all members of the student community to remain calm and refrain from spreading unverified information or speculations, especially across social media platforms,” he said.

Contacted, the University of Ibadan spokesperson, Adejoke Akinpelu, declined to comment about the incident.

“It is a police case, talk to the police. It is already a police case. We don’t want to talk about it,” Mrs Akinpelu said.