Shock and grief have enveloped the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), community following the reported deaths of six newly graduated Pharmacy students during a sign-out celebration.

The incident reportedly occurred on Wednesday night at Hilltop, an off-campus residential area in Nsukka, Enugu State, where the graduates had gathered for a house party to celebrate the completion of their academic programmes.

The students had earlier shared videos and photographs of their celebrations on social media before the occasion reportedly ended in tragedy.

Eyewitnesses disclosed that several bottles of unnamed alcoholic bitters, some empty and others partially consumed, were found in the apartment alongside other substances suspected to be hard drugs, including a substance believed to be ice (crystal methamphetamine).

An eyewitness, who pleaded anonymity, described the incident as a tragic day for the Nsukka community, alleging that the students lost their lives during the indoor celebration.

Videos circulating on social media purportedly show the lifeless bodies of some of the victims lying in a spacious room.

Although the circumstances surrounding the deaths remain unclear, an unconfirmed account from a student of the university claimed that medical examination of one of the survivors revealed an overdose of hard drugs in the person’s system.

The identities of the victims have yet to be officially established.

As of the time of filing this report, neither the university management nor the Enugu State Police Command had issued an official statement on the incident.

The suspected substances and alleged cause of death have not been independently confirmed.