Panic in Owerri college as lecturer slumps, dies in classroom

 

Fear has engulfed the Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education (AIFCE) in Owerri, Imo state, after Echetama, a senior lecturer of the institution, slumped and died in a lecture hall on Tuesday.

 

According to NAN, Joseph Okwulehi, the institution’s acting public relations officer, broke the news on Wednesday.

 

Okwulehi said the provost of the college has been attending series of emergency meetings over the issue.

 

He said the management has advised the staff and students of the institution to be calm and wait for official position of the institution on the issue.

 

“I can confirm to you that a senior lecturer slumped in a classroom on Tuesday and was confirmed dead at the Federal Medical Center (FMC), Owerri,” he said.

 

Until his death, Echetama was a senior lecturer at the department of Business Education.

 

The development, it was gathered, has forced students to keep away from lectures over an emerging rumour that the sudden death of the lecturer was connected to COVID-19.

 

Students were seen on Wednesday vacating school hostels, while others fled the school premises for fear of contracting the dreaded virus.

 

Some of the students told NAN they decided to avoid lectures after rumours emerged that the lecturer died of coronavirus complication.

 

Frederick Anyawu, a final-year student of the institution, said Echetama’s death has also forced lecturers to suspend lectures.

 

He said students decided to keep away from the college until the issue is sorted out.

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— Terry Ikumi (@terryikumi) February 17, 2021