Ajana Chioma Isabella, a Unizik law student, has died after reportedly being denied access to her insulin at Elmada Hostel. Outrage grows as students demand justice.
According to accounts shared by her colleagues and other concerned individuals, Isabella, who lived with chronic diabetes, depended heavily on her insulin medication. Trouble began when her room door at Elmada Hostel jammed, locking her insulin inside.
Desperate for help, Isabella reportedly approached the hostel management immediately, explaining her medical condition and requesting a spare key. However, she was allegedly denied access unless she paid a large fee for a replacement key — a policy the hostel reportedly insisted upon, labeling her as “careless.” Even though a spare key was said to be available, she was refused access to her room for three days.
During this critical period, Isabella pleaded repeatedly with the hostel authorities, emphasizing that she needed her insulin urgently. Her appeals were allegedly ignored while the management stuck to its rigid policy. Sadly, Isabella’s health deteriorated quickly. She collapsed and was later rushed to the hospital in hypoglycemic shock but did not survive despite medical efforts.
News of her death has sparked outrage on social media, where the hashtag #JusticeForIsabella is gaining momentum. Many students and activists have described the Elmada Hostel’s actions as heartless and cruel, with similar allegations from other students who claim they were extorted for replacement keys under the same “policy.” One student recounted being asked to pay ₦90,000 to have their jammed door opened.
Heartbreakingly, Isabella was reportedly just days away from being called to the Law Bar — a major milestone she had worked tirelessly toward. Friends and colleagues remember her as a vibrant, determined young woman, eager to complete her final year in law school.
This tragedy has amplified concerns over the welfare of students living in private hostels around Unizik and the unchecked power of hostel managers. Many student leaders and concerned Nigerians are calling for a thorough investigation into Elmada Hostel’s policies and demanding that those responsible be held accountable for Isabella’s untimely death.
The hope now is that this devastating incident will lead to stronger protections for students and ensure that rigid, profit-driven policies do not claim more innocent lives in the future.
