*Affirms 24-hour medical services

By Francesca Hangeior

The Federal University Oye Ekiti has dismissed reports insinuating a student – Fejiro Sharon Oteri, who died on April 8 -was not attended to at the Health Centre because it was not operating at night as erroneous.

This as the institution sympathised with the parents and relations of the student.

The Chief Medical Director of FUOYE’s Directorate of Health Services, Dr Musibau Olawale, spoke in a statement dated April 10 made available in Ado Ekiti on Friday.

Olawale stated, “Oteri, a student of the Department of Plant Science and Biotechnology, was rushed into the clinic by her colleagues, having reportedly collapsed during their academic activities. She was immediately attended to as an emergency by the doctor on duty, along with other health care workers, who made efforts to resuscitate her.

“The student was actually rushed in with nil respiratory movements/efforts, nil pulse, and nonreactive pupillary reflexes. However, adequate resuscitatory efforts were made, and upon significant progress, the patient was rushed in the university ambulance to one of the tertiary referral centers being used by the university.

“The patient was accompanied by medical personnel in the university ambulance around 11:40am. The Director of Health Services followed the matter, alongside some lecturers from the Department of Plant Science and Biotechnology, including the HOD, who were also witnesses to the medical efforts instituted.

“The loss was an unfortunate incident as we know the pains of losing a loved one, moreso, in her prime. We sincerely sympathize with the family and loved ones.”

The CMD, who dismissed reports insinuating the student was not attended to at the Health Centre because it was not operating at night as erroneous, stated, “The said incident did not in any way occur at night, as being alleged.

“The deceased student of Plant Science and Biotechnology was brought to the university health centre around 11:30am on April 8, 2025. The student was rushed into the clinic by her colleagues, having reportedly collapsed during their academic activities. Emergency medical services were promptly initiated, including the basic life support system by the doctor and other medical personnel on duty. The students who brought the deceased can attest to this.

“There was a history of convulsion secondary to the fall in the laboratory, where the deceased student collapsed. There were also the histories of second convulsion and incontinence of urine, while being carried to the school clinic. These histories were given by the students who brought her to the clinic.

“The allegation that there’s usually no medical staff on duty at night at the University Clinic is unfounded. The duty rosters of the doctors, nurses, and other health personnel are there for all who care to have a look at them. The records of students who attended during call duties/night shifts are there for all to see. The admission records are there, too. Our Sickle Cell Warriors and asthma patients, and other emergency cases can attest to this.

“It is important to also note that since the employment of doctors in the University Health Centre in 2013, there have been a doctor, a nurse, an ambulance driver, and other health workers on duty. Hence, the allegation of closing the Health Centre by 4pm is rather malicious and unfounded.

“Notably, the university clinic operates 24-hour services, including weekends, and is never closed even when students are not in session because of staff. Also, the centre is equipped with necessary equipment and there is 24/7 electricity from a solar inverter device and a dedicated diesel generator,” Olawale said.

The Ebonyi State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), said that the Command has arrested 112 suspects on drugs-related offences and seized 55.947 kilogrammes of various illicit drugs in the first quarter of the year.

This is contained in a statement signed by the State Commander, Mr Peter Ogar, who noted that the command arrested 112 suspects, comprising 85 males and 27 females within the age range of 16 to 76 years.

He added that the figure represents both drug dealers, drug users, and traffickers explaining that the arrests and seizures were made in different locations in the state between January and March this year.

Ogar further stated that during the period under review, four persons were convicted revealing that the Command within the period counselled 59 suspects, comprising 45 males and 14 females within the age bracket of 21 to 76.

He said the command arrested one suspect with a locally fabricated pistol.

The commander reiterated the command’s commitment to the fight against drug abuse and called for more stakeholders’ support to curtail the unlawful act.

He said they had organised a series of workshops and sensitisation campaigns against drug abuses across Ebonyi 13 local government, especially for the youths and secondary school students.

According to the state commander, the drugs seized include monkey tail, 11.2 litres/11.2kg, methamphetamine, 0.054kg, bromazepam, 46 tablets, 0.020kg, pentazocine in 84 amps 0.244kg, heroin, 0.014.

Others were Cannabis Sativa, 43.582kg, Tramadol tablets, 0.004kg, tramadol 100mg (1189 capsules), 0.400kg, diazepam 988 tablets, 0.207 and other psychotropic substances grossly weighing 55.947 kgs in all.

No fewer than six people have been confirmed dead after a helicopter crashed into the Hudson River off Manhattan, the United States, on Thursday, according to the Associated Press.

The crash occurred around 3:17 p.m., when the New York City Fire Department received reports of a helicopter in the water.

Emergency crews rushed to the scene and launched rescue operations.

Videos from the incident reportedly showed the aircraft upside down and partially submerged, with multiple rescue boats circling the wreckage.

The crash site was near the Manhattan waterfront, close to the end of a maintenance pier used by one of the ventilation towers for the Holland Tunnel.

Emergency vehicles, including fire trucks and ambulances, lined the nearby streets with lights flashing as first responders worked to secure the area.

Helicopter traffic is common over Manhattan, with several helipads serving business executives, tourists, and other travelers.

Thursday’s tragedy adds to a string of previous aviation accidents in the city, including a 2009 midair collision over the Hudson River that killed nine people, and a 2018 East River crash that claimed five lives during an “open door” photography flight.

Authorities have not yet released the identities of the victims, and investigations into the cause of the crash are underway.