University, Police Investigate as Tragic Case Highlights Pressures on Nigerian Students.
A 300-level Computer Science student at Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University (IBBUL), Lapai, has died by suicide after allegedly losing a significant sum of money intended for his rent and upkeep to gambling.
The student, Kelvin Danlami, was found deceased in his off-campus residence on Monday morning, in an incident that has sent shockwaves through the university community and sparked an ongoing police investigation.
The Niger State Police Command confirmed the tragic event. Police Public Relations Officer, Wasiu A. Abiodun, stated that a report was received around 10:30 a.m. concerning a suspected suicide.
“Information received indicates that in the early hours of the day, one Kelvin Danlami, a student of IBBUL was found to have hanged himself in his room with a cloth tied to the ceiling fan,” Abiodun said. “One of the neighbours who discovered the body…raised an alarm, and the victim was brought down and rushed to General Hospital Lapai, where he was confirmed dead.”
Preliminary accounts from friends and fellow students point to severe financial distress as a key factor. According to sources close to the deceased, Danlami was in a state of visible despair the day before his death, struggling to account for money he was allegedly persuaded to invest in a gambling scheme by an associate.
A close friend, who asked not to be named, recounted that Danlami appeared “devastated and downcast” and was unable to explain the disappearance of funds meant for critical expenses. This narrative of a mismanaged or lost sum, leading to overwhelming pressure, is at the centre of the informal inquiry among his peers.
Police operatives from the Lapai Division have visited the scene, conducted initial investigations, and notified the student’s family. PPRO Abiodun emphasised that “further investigation is ongoing to ascertain the reason” behind the tragic decision.
The incident has cast a spotlight on the compounded pressures facing Nigerian university students, who often grapple with academic demands, financial instability, and, in some cases, predatory schemes. While the police investigation continues to establish the definitive circumstances, the case has prompted urgent conversations on campus about student welfare, financial responsibility, and the need for accessible support systems.
Editor’s Note: If you or someone you know is experiencing emotional distress or thoughts of suicide, please reach out for help. Resources include the Lagos State Mental Health Helpline at 0800CORONA (0800267662) and support groups within university campuses.
