DAYS after four out of 10 students of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), who attended a party by a fresh graduate, died from yet unclear circumstances, one of the survivors has recounted what exactly transpired.
The 24-year-old Art Education student (name withheld) recalled how he managed to survive the ordeal during an off-campus party, saying he lost consciousness during the gathering after one of them vomited.
He said he regained consciousness several hours later, only to find his friends lying motionless on the floor.
The survivor told Vanguard that the party was organised by his friend, who he identified as David, to celebrate completion of his final year examinations.
According to him, David had bought two bottles of alcoholic drinks- Magic Moment and Best- which they took to his Hilltop, Nsukka residence, where 10 of them gathered for the celebration.
The party, he explained, started around 11:30a.m., with sharing of the drinks while playing ‘Truth or Dare’ challenge.
He narrated: “During the party, one of the participants started vomiting. I took him to the toilet and asked him to clean himself up. I then came out to clean the vomit on the floor.
“After that, I suddenly lost consciousness. However, I noticed that my legs had become stiff and I could no longer walk.
“When I regained consciousness about 9p.m., I heard someone saying that a ghost was shaking. I woke up and managed to look into the parlour, where I saw the host and other participants lying on the floor.”
He added that he immediately contacted a friend, who came to the residence, observed their condition and left, expressing disappointment that another individual who arrived at the scene merely recorded the victims, rather than assist by calling medical emergency.
Even in his state, he said he later contacted another friend, who came to their rescue and helped convey them to Bishop Shanahan Hospital and other medical facilities in Nsukka.
He explained that they were inside the parlour with the doors and windows shut, with a fan switched on, while a generator was running outside in the corridor.
He dismissed suggestions that they may have taken illicit drugs, insisting they consumed only alcohol, noting: “We didn’t smoke and there was no drug there. We took only alcohol.
“We had just two bottles for about 10 people, so the quantity each person drank was very little, not even up to a quarter of a party cup.”
The survivor said his legs remained stiff, although his condition was gradually improving at the time of the interview.
He disclosed that the university’s Vice Chancellor, Prof. Simon Otuanya, had visited him to assess his condition, as well as some local government representatives, friends and Police officers.
The Police officers, he said, questioned him about possible disagreements among those who attended the party and whether he suspected that anyone could have tampered with the drinks.
He stated: “People have been asking me whether someone poisoned the drinks. Even the Police officers who came asked whether we had issues with anyone or suspected anybody.
“But the host is not someone who keeps malice. I also saw him lying on the floor when I regained consciousness.
“His brother later confirmed that he was receiving treatment at Bishop Shanahan Hospital.”
He described the experience as frightening, saying it had completely changed his attitude towards alcohol consumption, noting: “This was the first time I took alcohol and experienced such a condition.
“I think this will be the last time I will ever take alcohol.”
