UNN Party Tragedy: ‘I Lost Consciousness After Cleaning Vomit,’ Survivor Says
A survivor of the gathering at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, where four students died and six others were hospitalised, has recounted how he lost consciousness while cleaning up after another attendee vomited.
The 24-year-old said it was his first time consuming alcohol and expressed regret over the experience, vowing never to drink again.
He spoke in an interview with Vanguard on Friday, saying he attended the gathering after being invited by a friend identified as David, who organised the party to celebrate the completion of his examinations.
According to him, the gathering began at about 11.30pm in an apartment in the Hilltop area of Nsukka, with approximately 10 people in attendance.
He said the attendees played truth or dare and shared two bottles of alcoholic drinks, Magic Moments and Best, which were served in small quantities in party cups.
The survivor explained that the gathering was for entertainment and that participants were not paid to take part in the game.
Recounting how he collapsed, he said one of the male attendees vomited during the gathering, prompting him to help clean up.
“At a point, one of the boys vomited, and I took him to the bathroom and told him to clean himself up. I brought out a rag to clean the curtain he vomited on.
“When I finished, I went to drop the bucket of water. I lost consciousness there,” he said.
He said the gathering took place in the parlour of a one-bedroom apartment, where the windows were shut and a fan was running.
Although the apartment had an air conditioner, he said it was not switched on. He added that a generator was running outside the corridor, close to where the attendees were gathered.
On the quantity of alcohol consumed, the survivor said the drinks were shared in small amounts because the group had only two bottles.
Speaking about his condition, he said he was recovering but still had difficulty using his legs.
“Currently, I am getting better. It is just that my legs are still stiff. I cannot still use my legs,” he said.
He confirmed that he was receiving medical attention and said the university’s Vice-Chancellor had visited the affected students, alongside local government representatives and friends.
Reflecting on the incident, he said he was struggling to come to terms with what happened, particularly because he had never consumed alcohol before.
“I feel so numb because I never even thought of what would happen at first, because this is just the first time I am taking alcohol and it has got me to this extent.
“So I am not really proud of it. But I know that this will be the last of it,” he said.
The survivor also said he could not determine whether the drinks had been contaminated, despite repeated questions from people about the possibility of poisoning.
He said police officers also questioned him about whether he had disagreements with anyone or suspected that someone had attempted to harm him.
However, he said he told the officers that he did not suspect anybody.
The incident occurred during an off-campus gathering in the Hilltop area of Nsukka, leaving four students dead and six others hospitalised.
The Enugu State Police Command said the four deceased, comprising two males and two females, were confirmed dead on arrival at the hospital.
The police added that alcoholic beverages were recovered from the scene, while the remains of the deceased were deposited in a mortuary for autopsy as investigations continued to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The university subsequently confirmed the deaths of four students and declared three days of mourning, during which academic and social activities were suspended.
By Oluwafemi Shodipe.
