The University College Hospital (UCH) in Ibadan, has confirmed the death of a 300-level medical student from the University of Ibadan (UI) following ingestion of an insecticide on Sunday night, March 1, 2026.
The UCH Public Relations Officer, Funmi Adetuyibi, confirmed the incident. Adetuyibi stated that the student passed away on Sunday evening after being brought in with reports of consuming Sniper insecticide, and the hospital responded accordingly, but he did not survive.
It was gathered that the deceased was discovered lying lifeless on the ground floor of Nnamdi Azikiwe Hall, foaming at the mouth and disoriented.
He reportedly admitted to ingesting the insecticide known as Sniper before losing consciousness.He was initially rushed to Jaja Clinic, where he received stabilization with oxygen and intravenous fluids, before transfer to the UCH emergency unit, where he was placed on life support.
The student’s parents, who reside in Akure, Ondo State, were contacted and arrived at the hospital prior to his death. The parents suggested the possibility of poisoning, while roommates maintained that the deceased had confessed to consuming the insecticide himself.
Roommates also noted that he had become withdrawn in recent times, rarely attended classes, and had been avoiding calls from his parents.The name of the deceased has not been publicly released by authorities or the university as of March 3, 2026.
Investigations into the circumstances continue, with no official cause of death beyond the reported ingestion confirmed at this stage.
Similar Cases of Student Suicide in Nigerian Universities in Recent Years
Several reported cases of suicide among university students in Nigeria have involved ingestion of insecticides like Sniper or other harmful substances, often linked to academic pressure, personal issues, or mental health challenges.
In August 2025, Ajibola Ibitayo, a 200-level Dentistry student at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), died by suicide after learning he would repeat an academic year due to poor semester results.In October 2023, Hameedah Sanni, a 20-year-old 300-level Microbiology student at the University of Ilorin, reportedly took her own life.
In January 2023, Joseph Oluwapelumi Olona, a 300-level Industrial Design student at the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), allegedly committed suicide, leaving a note, with reports linking it to personal distress.
In 2019, multiple cases involved Sniper insecticide: Christabel Omoremime Buoro, a 21-year-old 300-level Medical Laboratory Science student at the University of Benin (UNIBEN), reportedly ended her life after being jilted by her boyfriend, mixing Sniper with a soft drink.
Uzakah Timi Ebiweni, a 300-level medical student at Niger Delta University (NDU), also died by suicide using similar means.
Aduba Daniel, a student at Niger Delta University, consumed Sniper after discovering carryover courses.
These incidents highlight a pattern where academic setbacks, relationship issues, and untreated mental health concerns contribute to such tragedies, with Sniper frequently cited as an accessible means in earlier reports from 2019 onward.
Authorities and institutions have called for enhanced mental health support in universities to address rising concerns.