Hundreds of students of Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State, have reportedly been hospitalised due to suspected food poisoning in the institution’s butteries.
According to multiple sources who spoke to PREMIUM TIMES, the school’s medical centre has been overwhelmed due to the number of affected students.
But the university is keeping mum over the matter as calls and messages to relevant officials were ignored and not replied to for many hours.
Parent confirms development
Meanwhile, a parent, who is resident overseas, confirmed the development to PREMIUM TIMES in a telephone conversation on Saturday.
The source, who does not want to be quoted for fear of victimisation of the child, said the student has regained some balance and is now recuperating in the school.
The source said: “We have had difficulties reaching our child since we received the news. But earlier today (Saturday), we got through to our child who confirmed being affected by the food poisoning but is now recovering well and is fairly stable.
Other sources also confirmed the development but rued the school’s decision to keep the matter secret.
A former employee of the university, who also craved anonymity, said the institution should have spoken on the matter “to douse the tension but all this hide and seek game doesn’t help the university.”
Attempts to get reactions from the institution on the possible cause of the food poisoning, and how the situation is being managed were unsuccessful, as calls were evaded while messages were not replied to by officials.
The university’s Head of Media and Public Affairs, Chichi Ononiwu, who did not pick up her telephone for hours, quickly cut off the call as soon as our reporter mentioned the incident to her when she eventually picked up the call on Saturday night.
(Premium Times)
