Five students at Kebbi State University of Science and Technology, Aliero, have reportedly died of an unidentified illness.
The deaths of the students have prompted an appeal for the school’s closure.
Students who spoke to our correspondent on condition of anonymity said the deaths began last week, with four students passing away under unclear circumstances.
“Today, another student reportedly fell ill overnight and died in the morning,” a source told PUNCH Online on Sunday.
Officials from the World Health Organization visited the university last week for an awareness campaign on meningitis.
However, they did not confirm whether the first two deaths were linked to the disease.
When contacted, the university’s registrar, Maimaru Alhaji Tilli, confirmed the deaths of four students based on the institution’s records.
“Yes, four students have died according to our records, but the cause remains unknown.
“However, we recognize the urgent need to decongest student accommodations,” he stated.
Tilli further disclosed that he had formally written to the Ministry of Higher Education, particularly Commissioner Alhaji Isah Abubakar Tunga, seeking guidance on measures to curb further fatalities.
“In our letter, we requested permission to temporarily close the university, but we have yet to receive a response. As for the nature of the disease, we are still uncertain,” he added.
A student representative confirmed that the Students’ Union Government had also written to the university administration, urging them to shut down the institution due to the unexplained illness.
