…the student was said to have admitted to taking an insecticide known as Sniper before losing consciousness.
IBADAN, NIGERIA- The iNews Times | A 300-level medical student of the University of Ibadan (name withheld) has died after allegedly ingesting an insecticide on Sunday night, authorities at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, have confirmed.
The student was reportedly discovered on the ground floor of Nnamdi Azikiwe Hall by a colleague, foaming at the mouth and appearing disoriented. He was said to have admitted to taking an insecticide known as Sniper before losing consciousness.
It was gathered on Monday that his roommates promptly alerted hall officials, who contacted the Students’ Union bus service to transport him to Jaja Clinic. After initial stabilisation with oxygen and intravenous fluids, he was transferred to UCH’s emergency unit and placed on life support. He, however, did not survive.
Confirming the incident, UCH Public Relations Officer, Funmi Adetuyibi, said, “The boy passed away on Sunday evening. He was brought in following reports that he consumed Sniper, and the hospital responded appropriately. Unfortunately, he could not be saved.”
The deceased’s parents, who live in Akure, Ondo State, were notified and arrived at the hospital before his death. While they reportedly raised concerns about possible poisoning, his roommates insisted he had acknowledged ingesting the substance. They also disclosed that he had recently become withdrawn, seldom attended lectures, and had been avoiding calls from his parents.
The development comes amid fresh concerns raised by the advocacy group, Suicide Is No Solution Initiative, over the growing trend of suicide-themed skits on social media. The group warned that such content could be harmful to individuals battling suicidal thoughts or emotional distress.
The caution follows an online dispute involving content creator King Mitchy and influencer VeryDarkMan, who separately shared skits in which they appeared to consume a substance described as bleach.
In a statement issued on Monday, the volunteer-driven organisation, dedicated to reducing suicide-related deaths through advocacy and public awareness, said the trend risks undermining ongoing efforts to discourage self-harm.
Project Coordinator Toye Arulogun stressed the seriousness of the matter, saying, “Suicide is a major public health concern and must not be trivialised for online entertainment. In recent weeks, we have observed a surge in reckless content that appears to promote suicide, sometimes even associating brands with the act.”
