Tragedy has struck the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), Enugu State, following the deaths of four students after an off-campus celebration in the university community.
Six other students who attended the gathering were reportedly rushed to different hospitals, where they are receiving medical attention.
The incident occurred on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, at an off-campus lodge in the Hilltop area of Nsukka, during a house party organised to celebrate a friend who had completed his final-year examinations.
The university’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Simon Ortuanya, confirmed the incident while addressing journalists on Thursday.
According to him, the university received a distress call at about 10pm, prompting its security personnel to visit the location, where they discovered that some of the participants had taken ill.
He disclosed that 10 people were involved in the gathering, with four confirmed dead and six others receiving treatment in hospitals.
Preliminary findings reportedly suggested possible alcohol and drug consumption, although the university stressed that investigations were ongoing to establish the actual circumstances surrounding the deaths.
The Enugu State Police Command also confirmed the incident, stating that alcoholic beverages were recovered from the scene.
Police spokesperson, SP Daniel Ndukwe, said the four victims, comprising two males and two females, were confirmed dead on arrival at the hospital, while the remains had been deposited in a mortuary for autopsy.
Meanwhile, the university management has declared three days of mourning in honour of the deceased students.
During the mourning period, all academic and social activities within the institution have been suspended.
The Vice-Chancellor also clarified that the victims came from different departments, dismissing reports that all those involved were Pharmacy students.
He described the incident as a painful loss and reiterated the university’s opposition to sign-out celebrations, urging students to avoid activities capable of endangering their lives.
The university said it was cooperating with security agencies to establish the actual cause of the deaths.
