In Jalingo, a tragic event unfolded leaving many in shock and panic.
Till this very moment, the sudden deaths of three lecturers of Taraba State University (TSU), including a professor, a PhD holder, and a lecturer, still remain a mystery.
To complicate things, the three lecturers died within a span of 48 hours.
This tragic event, just like what we see in those old Nollywood drama began on Thursday.
The Tragedy
On that fateful day, the former head of the Department of Chemical Sciences, Professor Akporido Samuel, collapsed and passed away in his office.
While students and colleagues tried to mourn the tragic and sudden demise of Samuel Dr. Kiliobas Sha’a died under another tragic circumstance.
Just yesterday, early in the morning, that was when the former head of the Department of Biological Sciences, was announced dead coinciding with the death of Ibrahim Saleh Bali, a lecturer in the Department of Educational Foundations.
It was said that while Professor Samuel collapsed in his office, Dr Sha’a succumbed to high blood pressure at home during the night.
For Mr Bali, he passed away at the Federal Medical Centre in Jalingo after a prolonged illness.
A family member revealed that Bali had sold his possessions to cover his medical expenses.
He was later transported back to his village by university officials, where he ultimately died.
Faculty members expressed their apprehension regarding the circumstances surrounding their colleagues’ deaths, highlighting the financial struggles and hardships they face, which they fear could similarly affect them.
A Reminder
“Their death is such that it reminds all of us of what we are passing through in this institution, it shows that it can happen to anybody here since we are sharing the same financial plight.
We are pleading with the government and the university authority to step up and address our demands, we are passing through series of hardships,” one of the lecturers who spoke on condition of anonymity said.
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The chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) at Taraba State University, Dr. Mbave Joshua, expressed his concerns regarding the working conditions of his fellow educators during a conversation with our correspondent.
He highlighted that the lecturers at the institution are facing significant challenges due to insufficient financial support.
At the time of this report, the director of Information at Taraba State University, Mallam Sanusi Sa’ad, was unavailable for comment regarding the reported deaths of the lecturers, as he did not answer his phone.
