The management of Babcock University in Ilisan-Remo, Ogun State, has refuted reports of a fire incident on its campus, describing such claims as false and the result of “depraved, AI-generated misinformation.”
The university also dismissed reports suggesting it had indefinitely postponed the resumption of its second semester due to the alleged fire, affirming that students are expected to return as scheduled on Monday, January 12, 2026, in accordance with the academic calendar.
In a statement issued on Thursday, Dr. Johnson Akintayo, the Associate Vice President for Communications, Media, and Branding, explained that the university was alerted to a misleading social media post containing an AI-generated image purportedly depicting a fire outbreak on campus.
Akintayo emphasized that the false publication falsely claimed the university had postponed the second semester resumption because of the supposed incident.
“The University strongly condemns this depraved publication as a complete mischief and falsehood, deliberately designed to mislead and misinform our students, parents/guardians, and the public,” he stated.
He further reiterated that Babcock University relies on credible, official communication channels for disseminating information and does not share official decisions through anonymous or unofficial platforms.
Akintayo reaffirmed that the resumption date communicated to students prior to the first semester holiday remains unchanged, as outlined in the current academic calendar.
“Students and their parents/guardians are advised to completely disregard the fabricated story circulating online, as it lacks any truth or basis,” he added.
The university also clarified that there has been no fire incident anywhere on its campuses.
“For the sake of clarity, there was no fire incident, and there is no fire whatsoever on any of Babcock University’s campuses,” the statement read. “The campuses are safe, secure, and fully prepared to welcome students from Monday, January 12, to Wednesday, January 14, 2026.”
Babcock University warned those spreading misinformation to cease their malicious fabrications and urged the public to rely solely on official university channels for accurate information.
The institution reaffirmed that it remains one of Nigeria’s most secure and proactive universities and will continue to act in the best interests of its students, staff, parents, and the wider community.