*Six Others In Critical Condition In Hospital
*Varsity Declares Three-day Mourning
*Town Hall Meeting With Gov Put Off
Just-graduated students of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) who were found dead last night, were involved in a party with some of their colleagues.
Vice-Chancellor (VC) of the University, Professor Simon Ortuanya, confirmed the death of four persons, saying the development followed a party at a lodge in the Hilltop area of Nsukka, Enugu State.
Ortuanya disclosed these while addressing journalists, adding that six other persons were hospitalised, with some of them in critical condition.
According to him, preliminary findings showed traces of alcohol and drugs consumption at the party scene.
Giving details of what happened, he recounted that the university authorities received a distress call about 10pm on Wednesday, November 11, that some students and graduates of the institution were involved in an incident at a house party.
He said the university’s security personnel immediately moved to the scene at Praise Lodge, located in the Hilltop community, outside the university’s Nsukka campus.
“On arriving at the scene, we discovered that there was a house party in a lodge called Praise Lodge outside the university, precisely around the Hilltop community in the periphery of University of Nigeria Nsukka Campus.
“It was discovered that four persons died immediately. Six other persons are presently in hospital, as they were rushed to hospitals, and they are receiving treatment at the moment,” the VC said.
Ortuanya described the incident as tragic, expressing condolences to the families and friends of the deceased.
He said the university was cooperating with security agencies, particularly the police, to establish the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
The VC cautioned against speculation, noting that preliminary investigations had reportedly pointed to alleged alcohol abuse and drug-related substances at the party, but that the university had yet to reach a definitive conclusion.
He also reiterated the institution’s ban on sign-out celebrations across its campuses, including Nsukka, Enugu and Ituku-Ozalla, describing graduation as a period for reflection rather than excessive celebrations.
Ortuanya declared three days of mourning across the university community over the incident.
He announced that all academic and social activities, including lectures and ceremonies, would be suspended during the mourning period.
The VC also disclosed that the town hall meeting scheduled for Friday, 13 November, between the university community and Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, had been postponed to a date to be announced later.
He appealed to members of the university community to remain calm and prayerful while awaiting the outcome of investigations.
The VC stressed that 10 persons were involved in the house party, with four confirmed dead and the remaining six receiving medical attention, some in critical condition.
