Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
A male food vendor, identified locally as Lekan, died in a tragic accident on the University of Lagos (UNILAG) campus on Sunday morning, February 16, 2026. The fatality occurred at the College of Medicine, Idi-Araba campus, and has deeply affected students, staff and residents who witnessed events unfold. Verified local reports confirm that the death was the result of electrocution at a water point on campus, rather than any violent or criminal act.
According to eyewitness accounts collected by reporters, the incident happened around 10:00 a.m. as the vendor walked near a water station on the south side of the College of Medicine premises. Residents said Lekan had just finished disposing of waste near the area and stopped to wash his hands at a tap. At that moment, he grasped a nearby metal railing beside the tap and was electrocuted. One student who spoke on condition of anonymity said he saw the incident from a distance and immediately raised the alarm when he noticed something was wrong.
Campus security personnel were among the first to respond. They alerted others and rushed to his aid, realising he was in distress. Students and security officers quickly began administering CPR, reviving him briefly before he was taken to the university’s Accident and Emergency unit for further attention. Despite those efforts, he died later at the hospital.
The Secretary-General of the UNILAG Students’ Union Government, Joshua Saanumi, confirmed the incident, stating that the vendor was alone when it happened and was only noticed when a security operative realised something was amiss and raised the alarm. Students described moments of panic and urgency as peers and security personnel tried to help before medical responders arrived.
Shortly after the emergency response, officers from the Lagos State Police Command were notified and arrived at the scene. They escorted members of the campus community to where the body was laid and then returned to examine the area of the accident. University engineers were also on site to assist authorities in assessing the circumstances surrounding the electrocution.
In an official response, UNILAG management expressed deep sorrow over the fatality, describing it as a tragic electrocution incident involving a food vendor’s sales assistant at a commercial outlet on the College of Medicine premises. In a statement signed by the Head of the University’s Communication Unit, Adejoke Alaga-Ibraheem, the institution confirmed that the matter was under investigation by relevant authorities and urged the campus community and broader public to avoid speculation. The statement reiterated that the safety and wellbeing of all members of the UNILAG community remain a priority and extended heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of the deceased.
Early assessments by attending witnesses and security personnel did not immediately point to any obvious defect in the railing or tap installation. Reportedly, residents and staff said the water point was regularly used without prior incidents, and a security official who had washed clothes at the same area earlier that morning expressed surprise at the fatal outcome. The presence of water around the area at the time of the incident was noted, but engineers on scene were expected to conduct a more thorough examination to identify the precise cause of the electrocution.
Beyond the immediate shock of the event, the incident highlights broader concerns about electrical safety and infrastructure maintenance on large campuses that host dense commercial and residential activity. In Nigeria and elsewhere, poorly insulated wiring, exposed metal fittings and wet surfaces have previously been implicated in accidental electrocutions — particularly where water and electricity are in close proximity. Authorities normally emphasise routine safety audits and proper grounding of electrical installations to reduce such risks, but formal assessment outcomes at UNILAG were still pending at the time of reporting.
For students and staff at UNILAG, the loss of Lekan has been a sombre moment. Vendors like him play a vital role in day-to-day campus life, providing food and services that help sustain the large student population. His sudden death has triggered expressions of sympathy across the university community, with many calling for improved safety measures to prevent similar tragedies in the future. Official updates on the investigation and any further actions by the university or authorities are expected to follow as more facts are established.
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