Friends of a medical student of Benue State University, Makurdi, have alleged that their peer committed suicide after been asked to withdraw from medical school after being a student of medicine for 10 years.
They suggested that he fall into heavy depression after receiving news of his withdrawal from medical school after spending 10 years, Benue.com also reports.
His fellow medical students took his coffin and deposited it at the office of the vice chancellor in protest, blaming the school’s action for his death.
Read the rest of the story as reported by Benue.com and see photos below
Idoko was withdrawn for failing a haphazardly organised resit exam that has bedevilled medical students in the institution over the years.
Speaking under anonymity in a telephone conversation, one of the students said they believe that Idoko took his own life because he couldn’t bear the news that his 10 years in medical was in vain.
“He had been talking about it, that he wish he died a painless death. The school have finished him. There is no where in the world that a medical student is withdrawn after spending 10 years.” He said.
The students had complained about the manner in which exams were conducted, where resit exams were prolonged for up to one whole year as against the stipulated six weeks, with no efforts to engage the students.
After spending 12 years without graduation, that many of the students in the medical school have become disillusioned, frustrated, depressed and some have attempted suicide due to the stagnation and irregularities but the school management was continuously adamant about the psychological effects of their long stay in medical school.
The students, after an altercation at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital mortuary, obtained the coffin of their dead colleague, marched to the VC’s office, vowing not to leave until their grievances which bother around the haphazard conduct of exams, manipulation of results, withdrawals and accreditation, are resolved.
The students this morning, blocked the Gboko-Makurdi Highway causing a congestion of traffic. They also burned tyres, carrying placards demanding that their Vice Chancellor address them. They accused the VC and provost of paying a deaf ear to the predicaments of the medical students in the school over the years.
