Flashback: What Nigerian University Did after Final-Year Student Died from Snake Bite
- Umaru Musa Yar’Adua University, Katsina came under public scrutiny after a final-year student died from a snake bite on campus
- The university hired snake charmers following the incident to prevent further snake-related threats
- School authorities said the student was taken away from the university clinic against medical advice
Umaru Musa Yar’Adua University, Katsina state, came under intense public scrutiny after Zainab Umar, a final-year economics student, died following a snake bite on campus.
The incident, which occurred last week, sent shockwaves through the university community and reignited concerns about safety within student hostels and surrounding areas.
Source: Getty Images
Students described the death as “devastating”, with one undergraduate saying the campus was “thrown into mourning by something nobody expected”.
University hired snake charmers to curb threat
In response, the university authorities disclosed that snake charmers had been hired to eradicate snakes and prevent further incidents on campus.
The Dean of Student Affairs, Suleiman Kankara, confirmed the move, saying the institution had previously relied on snake charmers whenever reports of snakes emerged.
“We have engaged snake charmers in the past whenever there were reports of snakes on campus, and we have done so again to ensure the safety of students,” Kankara said.
Dean speaks on student's treatment, removal from clinic
Providing further details, Kankara said the deceased student initially received medical attention at the university clinic before being taken away by her friends and brother.
“Against medical advice, she was taken away from the clinic where she was receiving treatment,” he said, adding that the situation complicated efforts to manage the emergency.
University officials declined to speculate further on the circumstances surrounding her death, noting that the focus remained on preventing a recurrence.
Snake charming common in northern Nigeria
Snake charming, while unusual in academic environments, is not uncommon in parts of northern Nigeria. The practice, also seen widely in South Asia and some African countries, is often used both as entertainment and as a traditional method of handling snakes.
Charmers typically use flutes, to which snakes appear to respond, sometimes operating at very close range. In Nigeria, performers are known to handle cobras with bare hands during street displays, BBC news reported.
A local resident explained that “snake charmers are believed to possess special powers or medicines, which they often advertise and sell during performances”.
Safety concerns, calls for modern solutions
The incident has triggered debate about the reliance on traditional methods rather than modern environmental and medical interventions on university campuses.
Source: Twitter
A student union representative said, “While the university acted quickly, we hope stronger measures will be taken to ensure hostels and surroundings are properly secured”, Punch reported.
As investigations continue, the death of Zainab Umar remains a painful reminder of the risks posed by environmental hazards and the urgent need for comprehensive safety measures in Nigerian tertiary institutions.
7 things to do after snake bite
Previously, Legit.ng reported that a Nigerian wildlife and conservationist, known via his verified X handle as @arojinle1, highlighted things to do in the event of a snake bite, following the tragic death of fast-rising Abuja singer Ifunanya 'Nanyah' Nwangene.
The 26-year-old vocalist passed away at the Federal Medical Centre, Jabi, due to a snake bite at her Abuja residence on Saturday, January 31, triggering grief and tributes in Nigeria.
Proofreading by Kola Muhammed, copy editor at Legit.ng.
Source: Legit.ng
