A cloud of controversy has enveloped the death of Favour Ugwuka, a final-year student at Ebonyi State University Abakaliki. Ugwuka, who was in the Department of English, reportedly took her own life on Wednesday night in her hostel at the Ishieke Campus.
According to sources, Ugwuka had successfully passed all her courses except one, which she repeatedly failed. The lecturer of this particular course allegedly vowed that she would never pass. This ongoing struggle led Ugwuka into a deep depression, with reports of her frequently wandering alone on campus before she decided to end her life.
A video circulating online shows Ugwuka’s mother blaming the lecturer for her daughter’s death. In the video, the grieving mother claims the lecturer boasted about being the best and challenged him to take responsibility for her daughter’s suicide.
Rex Nwome, a graduate of the institution and a close friend of Ugwuka, corroborated these claims. He stated that Ugwuka had been consistently failed by the lecturer, forcing her to pay for an extra year of tuition only to be failed again. Nwome highlighted that Ugwuka’s exclusion from the recent NYSC shortlist intensified her depression, as she desperately sought to graduate and serve.
The Ebonyi State Police Command confirmed the incident on Thursday. DSP Joshua Ukandu, the command’s spokesman, stated that the matter had been reported to the headquarters, confirming the suicide of the female student.
Attempts to obtain a response from the university have been unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.
