The campus of the Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic (AKWAPOLY), Ikot Osurua in Ikot Ekpene local government area has been thrown into mourning as students in the Department of Journalism and Media Studies mourn the death of one of them, Emem Okon Jimmy.
The deceased, a final year student (HND 2), who was discovered dead the following morning, LEADERSHIP Weekend gathered, passed on mysteriously without any sign was buried yesterday) in her family compound along Dominic Utuk Lane, Uyo.
Neighbours had raised alarm after her room was still under lock, and was discovered she died alone in her sleep the previous night of Thursday, July 17, 2025, but was discovered on Friday night by neighbours, who accessed her one- room apartment through the roof.
Eyewitness who pleaded anonymity disclosed that the deceased was hale and hearty the previous day and even shared dinner with other tenants at the students’ lodge before she retired to bed and could not wake up the following morning.
Another student, Usen Abang, a neighbour, recalled that it was on Friday evening at about 10pm when the caretaker of the lodge raised the alarm that the deceased was not seen outside throughout the day causing other neighbours to become curious and could not open the door since locking herself the night before.
“It was then that all the tenants came out , opened the roof and broke the ceiling before they could have access into the room.
“The deceased was found wrapped with the bedspread while holding her cell phone tight suggesting that she had wanted to make calls but couldn’t.
“It was discovered that blood oozed from her nose and stained the mattress as she laid face down still dead.”
The neighbour explained that the care-taker of the compound called the elder brother of the deceased who drove from Uyo to Ikot Ekpene and took the corpse to mortuary.
Addressing the students during a candlelight procession ahead of the burial yesterday, the Head of Department of Journalism and Media Studies of the institution, Dr Inemesit Umoren, consoled with the students and advised them to take heart as God knows all things.
He warned them to spend time to seek medical helps and know their body chemistry alongside their academics engagements.
Meanwhile, the President of Department of Journalism and Media Studies, Hon. Nsoefen Mark Akpan, has enjoined the students to attend the burial of their colleague and accord her a befitting funeral.
“I know our hearts are heavy with tears in our eyes but try and come out for the burial,” he pleaded.
