The authorities of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Thursday, declared a three-day mourning following the death of four students who reportedly died at an off-campus house party in Nsukka.
The dead students were earlier alleged to be from the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, and died while holding their signing-out party. The faculty has however clarified that the deceased were not from the pharmaceuticals.
UNN’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof Simon Ortunaya, told newsmen that ten students of the university were involved in the party which they organized to celebrate one of their friends who finished his final year examination.
Ortuanya clarified that four of them died after consuming substances suspected to be alcohol and drugs. The remaining six students are currently at various stages of recuperation in the hospital, he revealed.
As a result, the institution has declared a three-day mourning in honour of the deceased students. The VC said, “Within these three days, all social and academic activities will be suspended in the university.”
He also announced the suspension of a town-hall meeting earlier scheduled between the University Community and the Governor of Enugu State, Mr Peter Mbah. He described the loss of the students as “a death too many”.
While sympathising with the bereaved families, the VC said, “The management, staff and the students of the University of Nigeria share in their grief at this difficult moment and pray for the repose of the souls of the departed.”
He said the students involved in the incident came from different departments as against the widely-speculated reports that they were from the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences. He reiterated the ban on all forms of sign-out celebrations in the university, and urged students “to desist from indulging in activities that will endanger their lives”.
He said that the university authorities are collaborating with security agencies to unravel the actual cause of death of the students.
