He had just completed his final year at the Faculty of Pharmacy of the University of Benin (UNIBEN) and was looking forward to his graduation. But when the induction held last Wednesday, Kenneth Akibigho was not among the graduands.
He died 24 days before the induction.
His family was planning big for his induction along with 112 other graduands before his death. The late Kenneth was injured in a gas explosion at his Famous Villa residence in Ekosodin, an off-campus location. He died in hospital.Read more after cut
The late Kenneth’s neighbour, Vincent Aifuwa, recounted how the “sad incident” happened. According to him, they exchanged greetings when he (the late Kenneth) returned from school on the fateful day. Then, they retired to their apartments.
“Suddenly, I heard an explosion,” Vincent said, adding: “Shouts of help came from the direction of Kenneth’s apartment.”
He said he rushed to the late Kenneth’s room, and met him on the floor, screaming for help.
Vincent added: “Kenneth wanted to prepare noodles when the gas cooker suddenly discharged gas, which caused the explosion. I called other neighbours for help and we rushed him to the nearby Fuller Health Hospital. But, doctors there referred him to the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) as they could not handle the case.”
The next day, Vincent said he visited Kenneth and saw that he was responding to treatment. “He even read the drug prescription written for him. Afterwards, he gave me his ATM card to withdraw N5,000 to buy the drugs,” Vincent said.
He added: “I called him on Friday and he told me that they would discharge him the following Tuesday. I was shocked when a friend told me on Saturday that he was dead. I never believed it. I ran to UBTH but I was disappointed. I don’t understand why he died, despite his response to treatment.”
Vincent said he always called the late Kenneth “the general” for his bravery and smartness. “He had treated my son freely and also saved my younger brother from the adverse effect of a drug he used,” he said.
According to autopsy, Kenneth died of blood clots in his lungs, which doctors said caused breathing distress. A nurse, told CAMPUSLIFE that the late Kenneth gasped for breath and was given oxygen but he could not breathe properly. He died on Saturday morning.
Anthony Ehimare, a 400-Level Pharmacy student, said the late Kenneth was friendly, describing his death as painful.
His words: “Kenneth was a mentor and someone loved in the campus fellowship for his friendliness. He could handle and teach any topic assigned to him. He had a good knowledge of the Bible and was a great preacher of the Word God. He had this characteristic laugh whenever he talked, after which he would always say ‘you won’t understand’.”
His classmates took to the social media to express their feelings about Kenneth’s death. Odera Unachukwu wrote: “Sun set at noon but we cannot question God’s will and judgment.”
Peter Onochie said: “Ken, I am yet to come out of the shock of your death. You should have lived and got your certificate for which you laboured for six years.
‘’Rest in peace my colleague. May God bless your soul.”
Ovie Carana posted: “My dear brother, as your body will be laid to rest, you will live on in my heart forever. May your soul rest in perfect peace.”
Penultimate Monday, his family compound in Ughelli South Local Government of Delta State was enveloped in grief when his body was brought home for burial. Many family members were incosolable.
Speaking at the funeral, the Deputy Dean, Dr Tony Waka, said Kenneth would be missed for his simplicity. He prayed God to grant him rest.
The late Kenneth was born 30 years ago. He obtained the Interim Joint Matriculation Board (IJMB) advanced level certificate in Pure Sciences from the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) in Zaria, Kaduna State in 2007.
He was admitted into the UNIBEN to study Human Anatomy but later got transferred to the Faculty of Pharmacy.
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