Enugu State Governor, Dr. Peter Mbah, has suspended his scheduled town hall meeting with the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) community following the deaths of four students at an off-campus sign-out party, while ordering a thorough investigation into the incident and announcing plans to ban such celebrations in tertiary institutions across the state.
The governor also expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy, which left four students dead and six others hospitalised, describing the incident as a heartbreaking loss to the affected families, the university and Enugu State.
Mbah’s position was contained in a statement issued on Thursday, November 12, 2026, by his media aide, Mazi Uche Anichukwu.
In the statement, the governor said the deaths of the students in their prime had cut short promising futures, while extending his condolences to their parents, friends and the entire UNN community.
“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.
The governor’s proposed ban is aimed at curbing what he described as excessive celebrations that have resulted in tragic consequences for students, their families and educational institutions.
He also called on relevant government agencies and tertiary institutions to intensify public enlightenment campaigns on the dangers and consequences of drug use and abuse.
Mbah prayed for the peaceful repose of the souls of the deceased and for God to grant their families and the university community the strength to bear the loss.
