Staff and students of the Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education, A.I.F.CE, Owerri have reportedly deserted the institution on the heels of suspicion that Corona Virus complications caused the death of a senior lecturer in the school, Tuesday.
The lecturer simply identified as Mr Echetama, of Business Education Department, slumped in a lecture hall on that fateful day and later confirmed dead at the Federal Medical Centre, Owerri.
The management of the institution has confirmed the incident through the Acting Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the college, Mr Joseph Okwulehi, who told newsmen in his office on Wednesday, that provost of the college is engrossed in a series of emergency meetings on the issue.
He said the management has advised the staff and students of the institution to be calm and wait for the 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.
It was learnt that Echetama, until his death, was a senior lecturer at the Department of Business Education.
Since the news of his death broke staff and students of the school have kept 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 the fear of contracting the dreaded virus.
Some of the students when interviewed said they decided to avoid lectures when the rumour emerged that the lecturer died of coronavirus complication.
A final year student of the institution, Mr Frederick Anyawu, said the development has forced lecturers to suspend lectures.
He said students decided to keep away from the college until the issue is sorted out.
Another student in the Department of Economics, Mr Okechukwu Eze, said the development has led to skeletal activities in the institution.
