It was tragedy at Sunshine Lodge, Ihiagwa, one of the satellite communities close to the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO), Imo State on Tuesday night. Three students collapsed and died while taking turns to have sex with a co-student after allegedly taking a mixture of tramadol, codeine and vodka. Two of them, according to an eyewitness account, died instantly while the only lady among them and another male student were found unconscious.
They were immediately rushed to the Federal Medical Centre Owerri where they were admitted at the Intensive Care Unit. The male student later died at the hospital, after efforts to revive him by a team of medical personnel failed. At as the time of filling this report, students have vacated the hostel, while the caretaker has been arrested by the police.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Orlando Ikeokwu, a Superintendent of Police, confirmed to The Guardian yesterday that the students used sex-enhancing drugs during the sex romp at Sunshine Lodge. He gave the names of the deceased as Ugochukwu Kingsley, Aka Uche and one Richard.
According to him, the police operatives who evacuated the bodies also recovered substances suspected to be Indian hemp and tramadol. “On April 2, information was received from the caretaker of Sunshine Lodge in Ihiagwa, that the students of Federal University of Technology, Owerri, were engaged in a sex romp with one Onyinyechi Okafor, also a student of the same university.
“Police detectives from Nekede Division promptly mobilised to the scene and found the four victims completely Unclad and unconscious. The victims were immediately conveyed to the police clinic but Ugochukwu Kingsley and Aka Uche were certified dead by the medical doctor on duty. Their bodies have been deposited at the Federal Medical Centre, Owerri, for autopsy, while their families have been contacted. The condition of the surviving victim is still being closely monitored.”Ikeokwu said the Commissioner of Police frowns at drug abuse and other illicit acts by youths, whose parents are working hard to guarantee a good future.
When contacted, the Public Relations Officer of the university, Mrs. Uche Nwaelue, couldn’t confirm if the victims were students of FUTO. She said: “We are still investigating to ascertain if truly, they are students at FUTO.“You know, the lodge where the incident occurred are being occupied by students from different institutions. Apart from FUTO students who live there, students at Federal Polytechnic, Nekede, also live there. We have to conclude our investigations first before we can come up with an official position on the incident. But I have read it online.”
In another development, 22-year-old Chika Alex-Chukwuezie has committed suicide in Ubaekwem community in Ihiala local government area of Anambra State. The deceased reportedly hung on a mango tree for yet-to-be ascertained reason. It was gathered that the deceased until his death was an active youth in the Umuezekwe political ward of Ihiala LGA.
A family member, who preferred anonymity, said the act might not be unconnected to spiritual liberation defect due to the reoccurring suicide incidents that plague the family. He said: “He was a single unemployed young man who had completed his SSS exams, with the hope to excel in business after schooling.
“One of his uncles also committed suicide at a youthful age decades ago. The family will have to subject itself to spiritual cleansing to avert recurrence of this unfortunate incident.”It was further gathered that the body of the deceased had been thrown into the thick forest in accordance with Igbo traditional rites. “Efforts are ongoing to bring in traditionalists who will cut off the mango tree where he hanged himself and sanctify the compound,” a source added.The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Harunna Muhammed, confirmed the incident, adding that investigation was on to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the incident.