There is palpable tension among families with children at the Nigerian Military School (NMS), Zaria, Kaduna State as a “strange illness” reportedly killed two students within one week.
Sources also confirmed that many students are currently hospitalised at the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH) following the outbreak of the sickness in the military school.
The 70-year-old NMS is a boys only secondary school where its students “receive comprehensive academic and military training adequate for their enlistment into the Nigerian Army as soldiers.”
According to its website: “Admission into NMS is strictly for Boys only; and admission is for JSS1 only. Candidates for admission must be 12 years old by August 31st of year of admission. Maximum age limit is 14 years.”
Sources who spoke to SaharaReporters on Thursday said some of the students being hospitalised are also battling for survival.
The unfortunate incident, it was learnt, has caused anxiety with most parents storming the military facility to withdraw their children.
“Please, something strange is happening at the Nigeria Military School Zaria. Two students have died so far,” a parent told SaharaReporters.
“Some of the parents including me have withdrawn our kids. As we’re talking, many students are in hospital.
“Most of the instructors are afraid to say it out. You can go to ABUTH GIT Department, that’s where most of the hospitalised students are admitted. Most of them are in critical conditions already.”
Another source added, “Some students fell sick in the school and were taken to hospital, two have died and the cause of their death is unknown.
“Though the school authorities are worried about the whole thing but unfortunately they’re still playing to the gallery.”
Speaking to SaharaReporters, Commandant of NMS, Brigadier General AD Audu confirmed the outbreak of the unknown illness and the death of two students of the institution.
He added that the cause of the outbreak was being investigated.
“Yes, we lost two students and some are hospitalised. The cause of this strange illness is being investigated.
“The result of tests conducted on the first student that died showed it was cardiovascular. We have the report already. Notwithstanding, we’re currently on the emergency response phase to identify the illnesses and causes.”
@Originally published in SaharaReporters