“He Was Gasping for Air”: Outrage as Covenant University Student Allegedly Dies Without Oxygen at Campus Clinic

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A heartbreaking incident at Covenant University has ignited nationwide outrage after a final-year student, Tunmise, reportedly died at the institution’s clinic under controversial circumstances.

According to multiple eyewitness accounts circulating on social media, the student was rushed to the university’s medical centre during a medical emergency but was allegedly left without access to oxygen — a basic life-saving requirement — while his condition worsened.

“He was gasping for air,” one post claimed, as emotional testimonies flooded platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram.

A close friend of the deceased, identified as Okime, publicly accused the clinic of failing to act swiftly. In her account, she alleged that instead of immediate medical intervention, there were prolonged prayer sessions while critical equipment such as oxygen and a nebulizer were reportedly unavailable.

Unconfirmed reports also mentioned the presence of the university’s founder, David Oyedepo, during the incident — a claim that has further fueled intense debate online. However, no official statement has verified this.

The story has since gone viral, triggering anger, grief, and tough questions about healthcare standards in Nigerian private universities.

Many Nigerians are pointing to the institution’s high tuition — which runs into millions of naira per session — questioning how such a facility could allegedly lack basic emergency response equipment.

The backlash has been amplified by recent developments around the university’s College of Medicine project, with critics describing the situation as deeply ironic.

“How can a school building a medical college not have oxygen in its clinic?” one user wrote.

Friends and classmates remember Tunmise as a lively, kind-hearted student whose sudden death has left many in shock, especially as he was close to completing his studies.

This is not the first time concerns have been raised. A similar incident in 2017 reportedly involved a student dying amid claims of inadequate medical equipment. In 2025, the death of engineering student Mordi Nwense Daniel also sparked criticism over alleged delays in emergency response.

As pressure mounts, students, parents, and alumni are calling for transparency and an independent investigation into the university’s medical system, including its emergency preparedness and staffing.

As of the time of this report, Covenant University has yet to release an official statement — a silence that is only intensifying public frustration.

Beyond the campus, the incident is now driving a wider national conversation about the role of faith, the limits of prayer in medical emergencies, and the urgent need for fully equipped healthcare systems in Nigerian schools.

For many, the question remains painfully simple: could this death have been prevented?

This is a developing story.
This report is based on eyewitness accounts and viral social media claims. Official confirmation from the university or authorities is still awaited.