NAFDAC probes death of Enugu NYSC member

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has launched an investigation into the death of Daniel Etimbuk, a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member at the orientation camp in Agwu, Enugu State, following allegations of substandard or falsified medicines.

In a statement, yesterday, the Director-General, NAFDAC, Mojisola Adeyeye, urged the public to avoid drawing conclusions about the cause of death, pending the outcome of its investigations.

Adeyeye said that preliminary information indicated that the corps member was first taken to the camp clinic on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, with symptoms suggestive of severe malaria and a history of peptic ulcer disease.

“He was treated and stabilised before being discharged with oral medications the following morning,” she said.

She noted that the deceased student returned to the clinic on the second Saturday with right thigh pain, profuse sweating, and recurrent episodes of low blood pressure.

Adeyeye said due to Etimbuk’s deteriorating condition and poor urine output despite fluid resuscitation, he was referred to the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Ituku-Ozalla, where he became comatose. She added that resuscitation efforts were unsuccessful.

Adeyeye further explained that, based on preliminary clinical assessment, the suspected cause of Etimbuk’s death was acute kidney injury, secondary to severe dehydration and shock.

“The agency notes that these findings are preliminary and do not, in themselves, establish whether the medicines administered contributed to the death,” she said.

She further stressed that the agency had visited the camp clinic, interviewed the attending medical personnel and other staff, and collected samples of the medicines for laboratory analysis and further regulatory action as necessary.

Ms Adeyeye said the agency would take appropriate action based on the outcome of its investigations.

Mr Etimbuk died last Monday at the Enugu orientation camp in the Awgu area of the state. He was the immediate president of the Students’ Union Government of Akwa State University.