Tragedy has struck the student community in Akwa Ibom State following the reported death of the immediate past President of the Students’ Union Government, SUG, of Akwa Ibom State University, AKSU, Comrade Etimbuk Daniel, at the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, orientation camp in Enugu State.

The death of the former student leader, which occurred at the NYSC orientation camp in Enugu, has thrown the university community, his family, friends and the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, into deep mourning and shock.

The National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, in a statement that has been circulating on social media, confirmed the passing of the ex-SUG president and expressed sadness over the circumstances that allegedly led to his untimely demise.

According to the statement shared by a student stakeholder identified as BABTEE, the incident that led to the death of Etimbuk Daniel is surrounded by troubling allegations that require urgent and thorough investigation by relevant authorities.

It was alleged in the statement that the late former SUG president had complained of headache while in camp and had approached the camp clinic for medical attention, where he was attended to and given some drugs.

However, contrary to expectations that his condition would improve after taking the medication, his health was said to have deteriorated rapidly shortly after he ingested the drugs administered to him at the camp clinic.

The statement further claimed that as his condition worsened, Daniel reportedly requested to be transferred to a hospital outside the orientation camp for more comprehensive medical evaluation and treatment.

It was alleged that the process of obtaining approval for his transfer to a hospital suffered undue delay, and that the required clearance to move him out of the camp for proper medical care did not come on time.

The former AKSU SUG president was said to have died before the approval for his referral could be secured and before he could be moved to a hospital facility where he could have received advanced medical attention.

What has further heightened concerns about the incident is the claim in the statement that a medical doctor who later examined the drugs given to the deceased allegedly identified the medication as fake, raising serious questions about drug authenticity and safety in the camp.

The statement described the allegation of fake medication and the reported delay in referring the corps member to a hospital as deeply disturbing and troubling, calling for immediate action to unravel the truth behind the incident.

NANS, in its reaction, called for a thorough, transparent and independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of the former student leader, to determine whether there was any act of negligence, professional misconduct or administrative lapse.

The student body stressed that the investigation should establish the source and authenticity of the drugs administered to the deceased, the quality of medical services available at the NYSC orientation camp and the procedure for emergency referral of corps members.

It noted that corps members who report to orientation camps across the country place their health and safety in the hands of camp officials and medical personnel, and therefore deserve the highest standard of care and prompt response in emergency situations.

The association maintained that no corps member should die in camp under questionable circumstances, especially when timely medical intervention could have saved the life of the deceased.

The incident has continued to generate reactions among students, graduates and concerned Nigerians, with many raising serious questions about the medical response system, drug supply chain and emergency referral protocol in NYSC orientation camps nationwide.

Many have also called on the management of the National Youth Service Corps to break its silence on the matter, conduct its own internal investigation and make public its findings to reassure parents and prospective corps members about safety in orientation camps.

They also urged the Enugu State Government, the Federal Government and relevant health regulatory agencies to look into the allegation of fake drugs and ensure that such an incident does not repeat itself in any camp across the country.

As at the time of filing this report, the management of the NYSC in Enugu State and the national headquarters of the scheme are yet to issue an official statement confirming or providing details about the death of the former SUG president.

Meanwhile, tributes have continued to pour in for the late Etimbuk Daniel, who was described by those who knew him as a vibrant, dedicated and selfless student leader who served the students of Akwa Ibom State University with commitment and passion.

His former colleagues in the SUG, student stakeholders and members of the university community have expressed deep condolences to his family, praying for the repose of his soul and calling for justice to ensure that his death is not in vain.