UCC Student Innocentia Avinu Found Dead as Police Continue Investigation

The death of University of Cape Coast student Innocentia Avinu is being investigated by police, with authorities awaiting autopsy results to establish the cause of death. The Education Minister has ordered a full investigation, while the university has urged the public to disregard unverified claims circulating online.

CAPE COAST, Ghana – Police are continuing investigations into the death of University of Cape Coast student Innocentia Atsufui Avinu after her body was discovered near a beach in Cape Coast days after she had been reported missing.

The 20-year-old Level 200 Bachelor of Commerce student was last seen on 11 June after leaving Ayensu Plaza Hostel on the University of Cape Coast campus, according to information provided by family members and university authorities. After she failed to return, relatives and friends launched a public search and appealed for information about her whereabouts.

Authorities later confirmed that a body discovered near Hutchland Beach in Cape Coast had been identified as Avinu following consultations between police investigators, university officials and family members. Police said officers responding to reports of an unidentified female body found on the shoreline conducted preliminary examinations and observed no visible signs of assault or external injuries. The body was subsequently transferred to the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital mortuary pending further investigations and a post-mortem examination.

Investigators have emphasised that the cause of death has not yet been established and that an autopsy will be required before any conclusions can be reached. Police say enquiries remain ongoing.

Education Minister Orders Full Investigation

The case has attracted national attention, prompting Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu to order a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding the student’s death. In a statement, the Ministry of Education described the incident as distressing and directed the University of Cape Coast to work closely with the Ghana Police Service in support of investigations. The ministry also extended condolences to Avinu’s family, fellow students and the university community. The minister called on security agencies to establish the facts surrounding the case and urged the public to allow investigators to complete their work without interference.

University Responds to Online Claims

As public interest in the case grew, the University of Cape Coast issued a statement addressing claims circulating on social media regarding the condition of the student’s body. The university said information provided by police investigators indicated that examinations conducted in the presence of family members did not reveal evidence supporting reports that parts of the body had been removed. The institution urged the public to avoid sharing unverified information while investigations remain underway. The university also appealed for calm and encouraged students and members of the public to rely on official updates rather than social media speculation.

Questions Remain Unanswered

At present, investigators have not publicly stated how Avinu came to be at the beach or what occurred between her last confirmed sighting and the discovery of her body. Those unanswered questions remain central to the investigation.

Missing-person investigations frequently focus on reconstructing an individual’s final known movements and interactions. Police have not disclosed details of the evidence being examined in this case and have not indicated whether foul play is suspected. For the University of Cape Coast community, the focus remains on supporting Avinu’s family while awaiting answers from investigators and forensic specialists. Until autopsy findings are released, authorities say the circumstances surrounding her death remain undetermined.

Reporting by Edem Hodasi, with verification and editorial review by the Nukunya News Desk, using local reporting and official statements from the University of Cape Coast and the Ministry of Education. Investigative details remain subject to ongoing police enquiries and pending autopsy findings.

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