Four students from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, have died after reportedly falling ill during a sign-out celebration at a lodge in the university community. According to reports, six other students were also rushed to the hospital for treatment following the incident, which occurred at Hilltop Lodge, Nsukka. The Enugu State Police Command disclosed this in a statement issued by its Police Public Relations Officer, SP Daniel Ndukwe.
The incident has sparked speculation about a possible drug overdose, although the circumstances surrounding the deaths remained unclear. Videos circulating on social media showed at least six persons lying unconscious on the floor of a spacious room, while some people gathered around them, filming and lamenting over the incident. The Pharmaceutical Association of Nigerian Students, UNN chapter, dismissed claims that the deceased were graduating students of the Department of Pharmacy.
The association's president, Olisaemeka Onah, visited Faith Foundation Hospital, where the bodies of four victims, comprising two males and two females, were deposited in the mortuary, to establish their identities. Onah confirmed that he did not recognise any of the deceased as pharmacy students. He also identified two familiar UNN social media personalities among the hospitalised individuals.
The association urged members of the public to refrain from spreading unverified reports, particularly concerning the identities of the deceased. The group expressed sympathy for those affected by the incident and promised to continue monitoring developments and communicating verified information relevant to its members.
A student of the university, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed that the incident occurred in Nsukka but said the identities and student status of those involved had yet to be established. The student added that some of those affected survived the incident and were receiving treatment at a hospital.
The Enugu State Police Command has launched an investigation into the sudden and unnatural deaths of the four persons reportedly identified as students of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. The police stated that the victims reportedly took ill after allegedly consuming alcoholic beverages at the gathering. The remains of the deceased had been deposited in a mortuary for autopsy.
The university management has confirmed the deaths of four students following an off-campus gathering in the university community and announced three days of mourning in their honour. The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Simon Ortuanya, disclosed this in a statement posted on the university's Facebook page, adding that six other students who attended the gathering were receiving treatment at different hospitals.
Key points
- The incident occurred at Hilltop Lodge, Nsukka, on November 11, 2026.
- The university management has suspended all social and academic activities for three days in honour of the deceased.
- The police have launched an investigation into the incident.
