The Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education (AIFCE) in Imo State has been thrown into mourning after a senior lecturer identified simply as Mr Echetama slumped and died in a lecture hall on Tuesday.
The institution’s management confirmed the demise on Wednesday.
The Acting Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the college, Mr Joseph Okwulehi, who confirmed the death to newsmen in his office, said the Provost of the college is engrossed in a series of emergency meetings over the issue.
He said the management has advised the staff and students of the institution to be calm and wait for official position of the institution on the issue.
“I can confirm to you that a senior lecturer slumped in a classroom on Tuesday and was confirmed dead at the Federal Medical Center (FMC), Owerri.
Echetama, until his death, was a senior lecturer at the department of Business Education.
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Meanwhile, the development has forced students to keep away from lectures over an emerging rumour that the sudden death of the lecturer was connected to COVID-19.
Students were seen on Wednesday vacating school hostels, while others fled the school premises for the fear of contracting the dreaded virus.
Some of the students who spoke to newsmen said they decided to avoid lectures when the rumour emerged that the lecturer died of Coronavirus complication.
A final year student of the institution, Mr. Frederick Anyanwu, said the development has forced lecturers to suspend lectures.
He said students decided to keep away from the college until the issue is sorted out.
Another student in the department of economics, Mr Okechukwu Eze, said the development has caused skeletal activities in the institution.