A yet-to-be-identified illness has reportedly claimed the lives of five students at Kebbi State University of Science and Technology, Aliero (KSUSTA), raising concerns among students and prompting calls for the school’s closure.
According to students who spoke anonymously, the deaths began last week, with four students passing away under unclear circumstances. Another student reportedly fell ill overnight and died the following morning.
Officials from the World Health Organization (WHO) visited the university last week for a meningitis awareness campaign. However, they did not confirm whether the initial deaths were linked to the disease.
University registrar Maimaru Alhaji Tilli confirmed that four deaths had been recorded but stated that the cause remains unknown. He acknowledged the urgent need to decongest student accommodations and revealed that the institution had formally written to the Ministry of Higher Education, specifically Commissioner Isah Abubakar Tunga, seeking guidance on preventing 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,” Tilli stated.
A student representative also confirmed that the Students’ Union Government had appealed to the university administration, urging an immediate closure to protect students from the unidentified illness.
