According to a news report from Leadership, the management of Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin, Kwara State, has clarified that Akindoyo Gideon, who was reportedly missing in Irele local government area of Ondo State, is not a student of the institution.

Leadership had previously reported claims by Gideon's mother and the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) that he was a 300-level Computer Engineering student at Al-Hikmah University’s Igbaja campus in Kwara State.

However, in a statement signed by the university's information officer, Femi Afolayan, on Sunday, it was confirmed that the institution does not have a Computer Engineering Department at the Igbaja campus.

The statement reads: “The attention of the management of Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin, has been drawn to an online publication “LEADERSHIP” of Sunday, 23rd June, 2024, which carried a story with the above caption.

“According to the story, one Akindoyo Gideon, a 300-level Computer Engineering student of Al-Hikmah University, Igbaja, in Kwara State has been reportedly missing in the Irele Local government area of Ondo State. Gideon was last seen on Monday, June 11, 2024 between Igbobini and Oderele communities in Ese Odo local government and Irele local government areas of the State before he went missing.

“However, our records revealed that: Al-Hikmah University does not have Computer Engineering Department at Igbaja campus. No student of our University bears Akindoyo Gideon, either in Igbaja campus (Faculty of Agriculture) or Department of Computer Science (Adeta campus).

A search of the list of all our registered students indicates that Al-Hikmah University does not have any student with such name. Lastly, none of our students, who are currently on Eid Adha break, is missing as the story claimed.

“This refutal is for the attention of the general public and, especially, parents and guardians of our students.”