A 300 level Biochemistry student of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), Mba Daniel, was on Saturday, confirmed dead after committing suicide.
Our correspondent gathered that the student apparently made different attempts to take his own life between Wednesday and Friday before he eventually succeeded in hanging himself.
We learnt that his phone was seized by a lecturer on examination supervision duty after he was caught cheating with it while writing BCH 353 exam on Wednesday, 10th March.
Daniel’s course mates who spoke on the condition of anonymity said that he last came to school after the incident on Wednesday. Some of them believe his quest to take his own life was due to depression that he suffered after he was caught engaging in examination malpractice.
His lodge mates at his residence in the Odim Gate area of the university community where the ugly incident happened said Hypo bleach mixed with dye, hair relaxer and Captain Jack liquor were found in his room.
They also reported that rope tied in the ceiling of his room, knife, syringe and belt were also found.
According to them, it seemed he had attempted to take his life through the items but was unsuccessful.
Daniel eventually hung himself at the balcony in the second floor of the three storey building where he fell from the rope and landed on the floor, suffering a broken leg.
He was rushed by neighbours to a nearby hospital where he was confirmed dead in the early hours of Saturday.
Confirming the incident, the President of the Nigerian Society of Biochemistry Students, UNN chapter, Silas Ijaja, said, “the information reaching me through the closest person is that the guy attempted to kill himself with corrosive chemical, relaxer and strong ethanol he mixed and drank but it did not work. He then used rope to hang himself from the balcony of his room where he fell from and fractured his leg. He was rushed to the hospital and confirmed dead on Saturday.
“It is obvious he died of depression over the incident that happened in exam hall on Wednesday. It may not also be unrelated to his inability to cope with the pressure of the ongoing examination. We have a lot to read and write this period and it is driving so many students into depression,” he added.
All efforts made to contact the Head of the Biochemistry department and school authority prove abortive.