One 300-level Computer Science student of Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai (IBBUL), wey dem identify simply as Kelvin, don reportedly die under tragic circumstances, as stories dey fly say financial pressure from betting loss and accommodation wahala fit get hand for the matter.

 

The incident don raise serious concern among students and residents of Lapai, especially as different versions of wetin really happen dey emerge.

 

One former roommate of Kelvin, wey no wan make him name show, tell Sahara Reporters say dem stay together for their first year in 2024 before Kelvin decide say e wan stay alone.

 

“Kelvin na my former roommate. We stay together for first year. Last year e say e wan dey alone, so I comot. But we still dey talk sometimes or see for school,” the source talk.

 

According to am, Kelvin dey often complain about accommodation wahala and high cost of lodge, dey also ask for help sometimes to pay house rent.

 

The source say e dey Minna when e hear the news of Kelvin death and later hear say Kelvin bin dey act as caretaker for the lodge where e stay, Justice Lodge, for Student Villa area of Lapai.

 

“Wetin I hear from people for the lodge be say landlord make am caretaker and e dey collect rent on behalf of the landlord. I no know the exact amount, but dem say e use the money do bet,” the source add.

 

Other campus sources say Kelvin matter worse after e allegedly lose plenty money for betting. Dem say pressure too much on am to return rent money wey e collect from tenants and also settle other debts.

 

One source talk say before Kelvin die, e send ₦100,000 give the landlord and promise say e go pay the remaining balance once the virtual bank network wey e dey use come back.

 

“Before e die, e send ₦100,000 go landlord account, tell am say the banking network dey bad and say e go send the rest once e stable. Dem say e get ₦570,000 before e send the ₦100,000,” the source talk.

 

Some students also allege say Kelvin borrow money from other students while e dey act as house agent, promise to secure accommodation for dem, which add more load to him financial problem.

 

But Kelvin family don challenge the story wey link him death to gambling. One Facebook user, Sadiq Sani, quote Kelvin sister say the family no agree say Kelvin commit suicide because of betting loss.

 

According to her, the story say e lose over ₦600,000 no match wetin the family know. She also question the suicide note wey police show her, say the handwriting no look like her brother own.

 

“She talk say just on Sunday, she send goods give Kelvin and dem talk for phone. Kelvin even invite her make she come Lapai, but she tell am say she busy with work,” the post say.

 

“She later hear from one church member say Kelvin fit dey sick. When she call SUG president, dem assure her say Kelvin dey okay. Few hours later, dem call her say e don collapse, and before she reach Lapai, dem tell her say e don die,” the post add.

 

As at the time of this report, university management and Niger State Police Command never release any official statement on the incident.

 

This no be the first time such tragedy go happen. For May 2023, one student of Federal Polytechnic Ilaro, Ogun State, allegedly kill himself after e lose him school fees to online betting. Also for 2016, one final-year student of University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Tobechukwu Okeke, reportedly die after losing money to betting.

 

The repeated cases don spark fresh calls for awareness on mental health, gambling addiction, and financial pressure among Nigerian students.