A yet-to-be-identified illness has claimed the lives of five students at Kebbi State University of Science and Technology, Aliero (KSUSTA), raising concerns among students and staff.

According to some students who spoke anonymously, four students died mysteriously last week, and on Sunday, another student passed away after falling ill overnight. Although the University has yet to release an official statement regarding the cause of death, the situation has caused growing anxiety on campus.

Sources revealed that officials from the World Health Organization (WHO) recently visited the University to raise awareness about the dangers of meningitis. However, there was no confirmation that the first two students who died before the campaign were victims of the disease.

The University’s registrar, Maimaru Alhaji Tilli, confirmed the deaths of four students in the University’s records but stated that the cause remains unknown. He emphasized the urgent need to decongest student accommodations to improve safety.

“We have written to the Ministry for Higher Education, particularly the Commissioner, Alhaji Isah Abubakar Tunga, seeking advice on how to address the situation. We even requested permission to temporarily close the University, but we haven’t received a response yet,” Tilli explained.

Meanwhile, a student confirmed that the Students’ Union Government (SUG) has also urged the University management to consider closing the institution to prevent further casualties.

As anxiety mounts, students and staff are hoping for swift intervention to identify the cause of the mysterious illness and ensure the safety of the University community.