The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has launched an investigation into the death of Daniel Etimbuk, a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member who died at the orientation camp in Enugu State, amid concerns over the possible involvement of substandard or falsified medicines.
The agency’s Director General, Mojisola Adeyeye, disclosed this in a statement on Monday, urging the public to refrain from speculating about the cause of death until investigations are concluded.
According to NAFDAC, preliminary information indicates that Etimbuk was first taken to the camp clinic on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, with symptoms suggestive of severe malaria and a history of peptic ulcer disease.
The agency said he was treated, stabilised and discharged the following morning with oral medications.
However, his condition reportedly worsened when he returned to the clinic on Saturday with pain in his right thigh, profuse sweating and recurrent episodes of low blood pressure.
Adeyeye explained that despite efforts to stabilise him through fluid resuscitation, Etimbuk’s condition continued to deteriorate, with poor urine output prompting his referral to the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Ituku-Ozalla.
He subsequently became comatose, and attempts to resuscitate him were unsuccessful.
The NAFDAC chief said preliminary clinical assessments suggested acute kidney injury secondary to severe dehydration and shock as the suspected cause of death.
She, however, stressed that the preliminary findings did not establish whether the medicines administered to the deceased contributed to his death.
As part of its investigation, NAFDAC said it had visited the camp clinic, interviewed the medical personnel involved in his treatment and other staff members, and collected samples of the medicines for laboratory analysis.
The agency added that further regulatory action would be taken based on the outcome of the investigation.
Etimbuk, a former student of Akwa Ibom State University, served as president of the institution’s Students’ Union Government before participating in the national youth service programme.
His death has drawn attention to the circumstances surrounding medical care at the orientation camp, with the outcome of NAFDAC’s investigation expected to provide further clarity on the incident.
