OAU Students Debunk Unrest Ebola Scare Rumour

Lukman Akintola

Students of Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU, Ile-Ife, Osun State have affirmed the state of tranquillity on the campus despite the widespread rumour that a student of OAU contracted the virus.

The news about the girl, which broke out last week Tuesday, created  panic among students and even parents at home, as they could not verify the authenticity of the information.

P.M.NEWS Campus Square gathered that the student in question was a female who was evacuated to Lagos for appropriate check-up which aided in proving the negative status of the student.

Some students who spoke with our correspondent, debunked reports suggesting that the institution was in a state of panic after  the case was announced.

They insisted that activities on their campus have been peaceful. Bello Taofeek, 300-level student of International Relations, who noted that there was an earlier panic, described the current situation on OAU campus as serene, denying that has been in turmoil.

“The scenario on campus last week was tense, due to fear of contracting the Ebola Virus. But our mind was put at ease after it was confirmed  that the information was false.

“Despite the false information, OAU students have been able to maintain calmness while being cautious,” he explained.

Also commenting on the issue was Akamo Bunmi, a 400 level student of Linguistic and African Studies, who disclosed that he was scared when he heard the incident but was able to overcome the fear.

According to him, “although we have a large concentration of bats here, I never thought there could be any scare of Ebola. I was scared after I heard about the girl. But I am no longer afraid, since we were made to know that it was all a mere rumour.  I can  shake hands with my mates now.”

Akanmo, however, explained that students of OAU are still afraid of visiting the university’s health centre, as any symptom of  malaria could be referred to as an Ebola case.

“My roommate is currently sick, but we could not go to the health centre because they could term it as Ebola virus. I just implore our health workers to ascertain facts before giving false alarm,” he advised.

According to  the findings  by P.M.NEWS Campus Square, students have returned to their normal social activities. Many of the students said they can now shake or hug their colleagues without fear.