A 24-year-old student of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), has recounted his terrifying experience at an off-campus party where four students reportedly died after participants lost consciousness.
The survivor, an Art Education student, said he regained consciousness several hours after collapsing during the gathering, only to discover that his friends were lying motionless on the floor.
The incident occurred at Hilltop, Nsukka, Enugu State, during a party organised by his friend, identified as David, to celebrate the completion of his final examinations.
Recounting the incident, the survivor said the host had purchased two bottles of alcoholic drinks, Magic Moment and Best, which were taken to his residence for the celebration.
According to him, about 10 people attended the gathering, which began at approximately 11.30am, with participants sharing the drinks while playing Truth or Dare.
He said the situation took a frightening turn when one of the participants began vomiting.
The survivor explained that he escorted the individual to the toilet to clean himself up before returning to clean the vomit on the floor.
However, he suddenly lost consciousness shortly afterwards.
“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 at about 9pm, 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 narrated.
The survivor said he immediately contacted a friend, who came to the residence, assessed the situation and left.
He expressed disappointment that another person who reportedly arrived at the scene allegedly chose to record the victims rather than make efforts to obtain medical assistance for them.
He eventually contacted another friend, who came to their rescue and helped convey them to Bishop Shanahan Hospital and other medical facilities in Nsukka.
Explaining the circumstances surrounding the incident, the student said the participants had been inside the parlour with the doors and windows shut, while a generator was operating outside in the corridor.
He added that a fan was switched on inside the room.
The survivor also dismissed suggestions that the participants might have consumed illicit drugs, insisting that alcohol was the only substance taken at the gathering.
“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,” he said.
He disclosed that his legs remained stiff but that his condition was gradually improving.
The student further revealed that the university’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Simon Otuanya, had visited him to assess his health.
Some local government representatives, friends and police officers had also visited him.
According to him, police officers questioned him about possible disagreements among the participants and whether he suspected that anyone might have tampered with the drinks.
He, however, said he had no reason to suspect the host of deliberately harming anyone, adding that the latter was also found lying on the floor when he regained consciousness.
He said the host’s brother later confirmed that David was receiving treatment at Bishop Shanahan Hospital.
Reflecting on the incident, the survivor described the experience as frightening and said it had completely changed his attitude towards alcohol consumption.
“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,” he added.
The circumstances surrounding the deaths remain a subject of investigation, while the survivor’s account has raised questions about what might have caused the participants to lose consciousness.
