The immediate past Students’ Union Government (SUG) President of Akwa Ibom State University, Comrade Etimbuk Daniel, has reportedly died at the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) orientation camp in Enugu State amid allegations of counterfeit medication and delayed medical attention.
Daniel, who was serving as a corps member, reportedly complained of a headache and was given medication, but his condition allegedly deteriorated after taking the drugs.
The President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Akinteye Babatunde Afeez, said Daniel subsequently requested to be taken to a hospital after his condition worsened, but approval for medical attention was allegedly delayed.
According to the report, the former student leader died before he could be taken to the hospital.
Afeez further alleged that a doctor later identified the medication administered to Daniel as fake, prompting calls for a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death.
The incident has raised concerns over the handling of medical emergencies at NYSC orientation camps, particularly the provision of prompt medical attention to corps members who develop health complications during the mandatory national service programme.
Afeez described Daniel’s death as a devastating loss to his family, colleagues and the wider student community.
NANS called for accountability and stronger measures to protect corps members from avoidable deaths, stressing the need to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The student body also extended its condolences to Daniel’s family, the management and students of Akwa Ibom State University, the government and people of Akwa Ibom State, the NYSC community and his fellow corps members.
Meanwhile, the NYSC Enugu State Secretariat had yet to respond to inquiries concerning the death, the allegation of counterfeit drugs and the reported delay in approving Daniel’s transfer to a hospital as of the time the report was filed.
The report said inquiries were made through messages and telephone calls to the secretariat, but no response had been received.
The allegations have not been independently established, and an official account of the circumstances surrounding Daniel’s death was not provided in the report.
