By Esther Ibe, Owerri
The University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), has declared three days of mourning following the death of four students at an off-campus party in Nsukka, Enugu State.
The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Simon Ortuanya, announced the development while addressing journalists on Thursday, expressing sadness over what he described as a tragic incident.
According to him, 10 students attended the party on November 11, 2026, to celebrate a friend who had completed his final-year examinations.
He disclosed that four of the students died after allegedly consuming substances suspected to be alcohol and drugs, while the remaining six were receiving medical attention at different hospitals.
As part of measures to honour the deceased, the university management ordered the suspension of all academic and social activities for three days.
“Within these three days, all social and academic activities will be suspended in the university,” Ortuanya said.
The vice-chancellor also announced the postponement of a town hall meeting earlier scheduled between the university community and the Enugu State Governor.
Describing the incident as “a death too many”, Ortuanya extended the university’s condolences to the families, friends and colleagues of the deceased students.
“The management, staff and 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.
He clarified that the students involved in the incident were drawn from different departments, dismissing reports suggesting that all four deceased students belonged to the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences.
Ortuanya also reiterated the university’s prohibition of sign-out celebrations, warning students against engaging in activities that could endanger their lives.
He added that the university was collaborating with security agencies to investigate the circumstances surrounding the deaths.