The authorities at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State, have stepped up efforts to find a missing student, Dorcas Oseghale, who has not been seen for four days.

Dorcas, a student in the Department of Chemistry with matriculation number CHM/2021/165, was last seen on the evening of Thursday, August 7, 2025. She reportedly told a friend she was going to get food at the Students’ Village along Ede Road but has not returned since. Attempts to reach her through her phone have been unsuccessful.

In an official statement released on Sunday by the university’s spokesperson, Mr. Abiodun Olarewaju, the school confirmed that the case has been reported to the Osun State Police Command to enhance the search operation.

"On August 7, 2025, at around 3:00 p.m., news of a missing female student surfaced on a student social media platform. The university’s Security Unit began tracking discussions about the incident immediately," the statement said.

"Later that evening, by 6:10 p.m., students from the Chemistry Department, accompanied by Dorcas’ roommate, Akinkuade Omobolanle Beatrice of the Agricultural Extension Department, formally lodged a complaint with the Security Unit."

Due to the scale of the situation and constraints in resources, the university assigned three security officers to join the students in delivering initial reports to the Nigerian Police, which has the appropriate capacity and experience to manage such investigations.

Vice Chancellor Professor Simeon Bamire praised the students for acting quickly and assisting with the search. He urged the police and other relevant security bodies to commit all necessary resources to help find the missing student.

He also appealed to the general public to provide any relevant information about Dorcas Oseghale’s whereabouts by reporting to the nearest police station or contacting the university’s Security Unit.