Nigerian university in mourning after four students die at post-exam party

What the report says

A University of Nigeria Nsukka community is in mourning after four students died following a party in Nsukka, in south-eastern Nigeria, held to celebrate the end of their final exams. BBC Africa reported that the victims were two men and two women, and that police have not yet confirmed the cause of death. According to police, the students had reportedly become ill after drinking alcohol at the gathering.

The university has suspended academic and social activities for three days and said it is working with security agencies to determine what happened. University Vice-Chancellor Simon Ortuanya said security staff responded after a distress call on Wednesday evening and went to the house party at Praise Lodge, outside the campus in the Hilltop area. He said initial findings suggested possible alcohol abuse or drug-related issues, but that the investigation was still incomplete.

The university also announced a ban on “signing-out” celebrations, a common final-year tradition that often involves parties and shirt-signing. Police said alcoholic drinks were recovered from the scene and the bodies were taken for autopsies. The deaths have drawn attention because they come amid broader concern in Nigeria over unsafe or adulterated alcohol, with regulators recently stepping up raids and enforcement against suspected producers of harmful drinks.