UI Student Missing After Scripture Union Conference, Rumours Debunked

A cloud of uncertainty has enveloped the University of Ibadan (UI) following reports that a student leader of the Scripture Union Students’ Fellowship was kidnapped while returning from a national conference, amid widespread rumours that initially claimed eight students had been abducted.

Investigations, however, indicate that only one University of Ibadan student has been confirmed missing, contrary to reports circulating within the student community.

The missing student, identified as Tomisin, a 300-level Law student at the University of Ibadan, reportedly disappeared while travelling back from the Scripture Union Students’ Fellowship National Conference held at the SU Camp of Faith in Okigwe, Imo State, between June 11 and June 14, 2026.

Tomisin serves as the National Secretary of the Scripture Union Students’ Fellowship, Nigeria, and is also the Vice President of the University of Ibadan chapter of the fellowship.

According to information gathered by the University of Ibadan Campus Journalists (UCJ), contact was lost with the convoy conveying the Fellowship’s National General Director, Engr. Uwem Cosmos, and several others on Sunday, June 14, while they were returning from the conference.

Although reports suggested the convoy may have lost contact around Uli in Anambra State, this information could not be independently verified.

Tomisin’s absence came to light after she failed to sit for faculty examinations on Monday and Tuesday, missing two examination papers.

UCJ findings revealed that two members of the University of Ibadan Scripture Union chapter attended the conference. While one student, from the Department of Music, safely returned, the other, Tomisin, was travelling in the General Director’s vehicle, which remains unaccounted for.

An anonymous fellowship member disclosed that efforts to locate the missing persons commenced on Sunday night after communication with the convoy was lost.

“By Monday, the national headquarters had dispatched a search party, and security officers had joined the search,” the source said.

While the national headquarters declined to provide details when contacted, the President of the University of Ibadan Scripture Union Fellowship, Mr Olabisi Mayowa, confirmed the incident and the identities of those involved.

Mayowa explained that Tomisin attended the conference in her capacity as National Secretary of the fellowship.

“Tomisin travelled in the position of the national secretary, and she went there in the convoy of the General Director of the Scripture Union,” he said.

He further disclosed that the fellowship headquarters had formally informed the university authorities through a letter addressed to the Dean of the Faculty of Law, Prof. J. Akintayo, on Monday.

According to him, the Vice-Chancellor was also notified through the correspondence.

Meanwhile, rumours alleging that the fellowship president had absconded or deliberately avoided contact with university authorities have been dismissed.

UCJ reported that while initial attempts by the Dean of Student Affairs to reach the fellowship president were unsuccessful, claims that he blocked the Dean’s telephone number and fled to evade police investigation could not be substantiated.

The fellowship president was reportedly seen at the Dean’s office during UCJ’s fact-finding visit.

The Dean of Student Affairs confirmed that the university management is aware of the development.

He said he was informed of the matter on Tuesday by the President of the Law Students’ Society, Adebodun Ajakaiye, after which the Vice-Chancellor, Deputy Vice-Chancellor and the university security unit were notified.

“The school management was also not informed about the travel for the conference, an act that should have been a prerequisite for any travelling to be done for every member of an association travelling from within the school community,” the Dean stated.

He added that efforts were ongoing to obtain a clearer understanding of the circumstances surrounding the incident and facilitate the safe return of the affected student.

The Student Union President also confirmed being informed of the matter and said consultations were ongoing with relevant stakeholders to establish the facts.

He noted that the Students’ Union would issue a clarification based on verified information available to it.

University authorities, student leaders and fellowship officials have appealed for calm, urging students to refrain from spreading unverified information as efforts continue to determine the whereabouts of the missing student.

The incident remains under investigation, with search operations reportedly ongoing.

This is a developing story.