Drug overdose kills 300-level FUO student in Bayelsa

According to reports, a student who was enrolled in the Petroleum and Gas Engineering program at the Federal University, Otuoke (FUO), located in Bayelsa State, was found dead from an apparent drug overdose.

The student, Job Alawari Kei, who passed away at the age of 19 is only known by his first name. It is believed that he took a drug called Colorado (Colos).

Some students on this campus claim that the youths who are involved in internet fraud and are more commonly referred to as Yahoo Boys are the primary consumers of the drug known as Colos.

The student who spoke on the condition of anonymity stated that the deceased student was said to have “cash out” on an internet deal and wanted to celebrate by getting “high,” but the drug that was handed to him by his friends was what ultimately caused his death.
Already, the death of the student, which occurred just a few weeks after the death of another 200-level student of the Federal University of Otuoke identified as Bright Akhere, at a swimming pool located at the Renew Empire Hotel in Otuoke, Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, has triggered concerns over the rate of student involvement in drug use and internet fraud.

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According to the opinions of a few of the other students, the majority of the fatalities that have been reported in the past half-year have been caused by drug overdoses and dishonesty on the internet.
“We are very concerned. Even the girls are using drugs with complete abandonment these days. One of them expressed their frustration by saying, “And the school authorities are not bothered because we stay off campus.”

One Joseph stated that individual students should exercise caution before becoming involved with illegal substances; however, “the newly elected SUG led by Comrade Saturday Emomotimi Charles has to launch an aggressive campaign against drug abuse within and outside of the campus.”

The Bayelsa State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Asinim Buswat, released a statement on Tuesday confirming the tragic incident. In the statement, he said that the student who passed away had become unsteady after consuming illegal substances and had to be rushed to the hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.

The Public Relations Officer (PPRO) stated, “On May 3, 2023, at approximately 2200 hours, one Job Alawari Kei’m’ 19 years, a student in the Petroleum and Gas Engineering Department of Federal University Otuoke, became unresponsive after consuming illegal substances. He was rushed to the hospital, where doctors determined that he had already passed away.

“The body has been brought to the hospital so that an autopsy can be performed. The investigation is still in progress.

Mercy Ekott, the Public Relations Officer of FUO, was contacted about some of the measures the institution is putting in place to address the death of students due to drug abuse. In response, she stated that the institution has not yet held any management meeting to that effect, but that they have organized several orientation programs especially for all freshmen on the dangers and consequences of drug abuse.

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“When celebrating and participating in other social activities, students should do so in a more responsible and sober manner. That orientation ought to be adopted by them. Every first-year student participated in the orientation program that was offered. Therefore, we had impressed upon them. She voiced her opinion that “they ought to be more responsible.”