Enugu State Governor, Dr. Peter Mbah, has ordered a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deaths of four University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), students at an off-campus sign-out party, while announcing plans to work with tertiary institutions to enforce a ban on such celebrations.
The governor also suspended his scheduled town hall meeting with the UNN community, earlier fixed for Friday, November 13, 2026, as a mark of respect for the deceased students.
Mbah’s position was contained in a statement issued on Thursday by his media aide, Mazi Uche Anichukwu, in which he expressed profound grief over the incident that also left six other students hospitalised.
Describing the deaths as a heartbreaking loss to the affected families, the university and Enugu State, the governor said the tragedy had cut short the lives and promising futures of young people.
“I received with rude shock and deep sense of loss the news of the off-campus sing-out party leading to the death of four students of the University of Nigeria Nsukka, and hospitalisation of six others.
“This is a grievous loss not only to the immediate families of the deceased and the university, but also to us as a state. Losing them in their prime and along with their promising future cuts as deeply as a sharp knife. We, therefore share in this grief and pray God to grant their families, friends, and the UNN community the equanimity to bear the heartbreaking loss.
“Our hearts go out to their parents in particular, who sacrificed personal comforts to sponsor their children through the university, but only to face this sad turn of events.
“As a government, we have ordered a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding their deaths and will work closely with the university authorities and security agencies to get to the roots of the sad development and forestall a recurrence.
“In the meantime, I have suspended my scheduled town hall meeting with the UNN community on Friday, November 13, 2026, as we join the university in mourning the dead.
“Going forward, we will work with the authorities of tertiary institutions to enforce a full ban on sign-out parties and other excessive celebrations, a trend that has cost more lives and brought more sorrows than joy to families and higher institutions of learning,” the governor stated.
Beyond the investigation and proposed ban, Mbah called on relevant agencies and educational institutions to intensify public enlightenment campaigns on the dangers and consequences of drug use and abuse.
He also prayed for the peaceful repose of the souls of the deceased and strength for their families, friends and the entire UNN community to bear the loss.
