Mystery Snake kills student

For a a final year National Diploma female student of the Institute of Management and Technology (IMT), Enugu, Miss Nnamonu Nnamonu, life was so short, nasty and brutish. Bibian was, in the early hours of February 6, bitten to death by a mystery snake inside her one room apartment at No. 3c Onuato Street, off Presidential Road, Enugu-Nigeria. The ill-fated student was sleeping in between her two other room mates when the snake, identified as a Cobra, reportedly crept straight towards her and bit her on the leg. Bibian, an indigene of Ikem in Isiuzo council area of the state, screamed in pains, and, alongside her scared room mates (Ifeoma and Chinyere Odoh-two sisters), jumped out of the bed, but there was no sign of danger in sight in the room. Bibian’s pains persisted despite first aid treatments administered to her by neighbors. The first aid treatment constituted crude oil and gbogbo-nise- a multi-purpose herbal and anti-venom mixture.

The neighbors later conducted a thorough search inside Bibian’s room and discovered a massive convoluted snake in an obscure corner of the apartment. The snake was killed in the ensued pandemonium.

KlinReports learnt the evil snake attacked Bibian around 3 am, but she was taken to Enugu State University Teaching Hospital for medical treatment about an hour later. The killed snake was, also, taken to the hospital alongside Bibian. Alas! Bibian died almost on arrival at the hospital.

It was very pathetic and heart-rending, as a mammoth crowd gathered at the hospital to watch both the dead bodies of Bibian and the snake lay side by side in the emergency ward before Bibian’s remains were deposited in the morgue.

A medical expert said the killer snake was African specie of Cobra, one of the most venomous in the world. The snake, the expert stated, must have emptied its entire venom on the young lady, resulting in a deadly attack on vital organs of her body, including respiratory system, the pancreas and the liver.

However, investigations carried out by KlinReports showed that there was everything strange about the episode. While some members of the neighborhood suspect that the snake could have been, through diabolical means, sent to attack Bibian, others think it was just an ordinary snake bite.

Although the neighborhood looked unkempt, the victim’s room was neat with little or no property to have served as a shield to such a large reptile reportedly measuring about five feet. Moreover, neither were there visible openings on the ceiling in the room nor crack on the wall from where the snake could have crept into the room.

Another puzzle: How come it was only Bibian who was sleeping in between his room mates, that the killer snake attacked?

While the reader grapples with this snake bite puzzles, it has to be pointed out that the actual killer of Bibian is the rot in our polity. Because both the government and authorities of respective institutions of learning in our country do not make adequate arrangements to provide hostel accommodations, students find themselves residing in slums and suburbs where they could find cheap accommodation.

Until our policy formulators and implementers commit themselves to quality nation building, which should embrace all facets of life, unfortunate incidents like this will continue. It is Bibian today. Who knows whose turn it will be tomorrow?

Meanwhile, Bibian's body will be committed to mother earth on Friday February 20 in her Ikem home. While condoling with the deceased family, KlinReports says, ‘May the Gentle Soul of Bibian Rest in Perfect Peace!’