The death of Samaria Ayanle, a 19-year-old Black student who went missing from the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) in the UK, has sent shockwaves through the community.
The tragic incident also raised concerns about the handling of missing persons cases.
Ayanle was reported missing on March 4, prompting a search effort by friends and authorities.
However, her body had been discovered three weeks earlier, washed up on the north shore of the Thames near Putney Pier on February 22. Despite the discovery, her body remained unidentified for weeks.
The Metropolitan Police struggled to identify Ayanle as no personal property or identification was found on her, and fingerprint tests initially yielded no matches to reported missing persons.
It wasn’t until March 13 that officers linked her to the body found in Putney, hours after a public appeal.
Criticism has been directed at both SOAS and the police for the delayed response in identifying Ayanle’s body.
Friends and students expressed frustration over the university’s handling of the situation, with some questioning why it took four days for university staff to report her missing to the police.
The Black Lives Matter UK organization highlighted the disproportionate treatment of missing persons cases involving Black individuals, emphasizing the need for authorities to prioritize these cases with the same level of care and consideration.
In response to the backlash, SOAS stated that they immediately took steps to locate Ayanle upon receiving reports of her disappearance.
“Out of respect for the confidentiality of Samaria, we were unable to share details of the steps we were taking with the students who contacted us, however we did reply to the students on the same day they contacted us to confirm that we would be taking action, and we began working on the case on that day,” the university said.
However, friends of the victim criticized the university for failing to perform due diligence and disregarding safeguarding policies.
A group of six friends of Ayanle released a statement expressing their disappointment in the institutions tasked with ensuring safety, noting that the responsibility of finding Ayanle fell largely on their shoulders.
The circumstances surrounding Ayanle’s death have reignited fears of a potential serial killer operating in the area, adding to the sense of unease and urgency in finding answers and ensuring justice for the victim and her loved ones.
