Comrade Etimbuk Daniel, the immediate past Students’ Union Government (SUG) President of Akwa Ibom State University, has died at the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) orientation camp in Enugu State. According to the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Daniel complained of a headache at the orientation camp and was given some medication. However, his condition allegedly worsened after he took the drugs.
The NANS President, Comrade Akinteye Babatunde Afeez, announced the development in a statement, expressing shock and describing the death as a painful loss to the student community. Afeez said he received the news with rude shock and raised concerns over the reported circumstances of Daniel’s death, particularly the allegations surrounding the medication he received and the delay in taking him to the hospital.
The statement further claimed that the deceased requested to be taken to the hospital but that the necessary approval was allegedly delayed, leading to his death before receiving medical attention. NANS also said it was informed that a doctor later identified the drugs administered to Daniel as fake, raising concerns about the circumstances surrounding his death.
Afeez extended his condolences to Akwa Ibom State, the NANS community, and other student leaders and associates affected by Daniel’s death. The student body also highlighted the dangers associated with fake drugs, noting that the reported incident had renewed concerns about the need to protect the lives of young Nigerians.
The death comes amid renewed concerns about the safety of prospective corps members, following the recent abduction of 20 people traveling to NYSC orientation camps in the South-East. The victims were traveling in two buses when gunmen reportedly abducted them at Ogbaku in the Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State.
The Nigeria Police Force later confirmed that the victims were rescued on October 7 at Amakohia Ubi Village in Imo State following sustained search-and-rescue operations involving other security agencies. Following their rescue, the police said the prospective corps members were taken for medical assessment and necessary care.
The incident has raised serious questions that must be addressed to prevent similar tragedies in the future. NANS said it was mourning the loss and would communicate its further actions and official position on the matter in due course, with the student community in mourning at this difficult moment.
Key points
- The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has expressed concern over the reported circumstances of Daniel’s death.
- The incident has raised concerns about the safety of prospective corps members and the dangers associated with fake drugs.
- The student community is mourning the loss and demanding a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding Daniel's death.
