Breaking News: Heartbreaking Loss of Theresa Isu – Another Nigerian Student Nurse Lost to Electrocution
Fellow Nurses Africa
By FNA Editorial Team
12:59 PM BST, August 22, 2025 – Ebonyi State, Nigeria
Fellow Nurses Africa can confirm with profound sorrow the tragic passing of Theresa Isu, a beacon of hope and dedication at the College of Nursing Sciences, Mater Misericordiae Hospital, Afikpo. This cherished student nurse, whose life was extinguished by electrocution on Sunday, August 17, 2025, in her hostel room, leaves behind a legacy of resilience and compassion that will forever resonate within our nursing community. Sources close to her paint a picture of a young woman whose warmth, determination, and unwavering commitment to healing touched countless lives, making her loss an unbearable wound for those who knew her.
Theresa’s journey was one of quiet strength and inspiring ambition. Born into a modest family in Ebonyi State, she grew up with dreams that mirrored the aspirations of so many—nurtured by the love of her parents and the laughter of her siblings. Friends recall her as a child who bandaged her dolls with care, a foreshadowing of the nurse she would become.
Her academic path was marked by diligence, earning her a coveted spot at Mater Misericordiae, where she blossomed into a figure of inspiration. Colleagues speak of her gentle spirit, her late-night study sessions illuminated by hope, and her infectious smile that brightened the wards. To her husband and the relatives who stood by her side, she was a pillar of love, her dreams of building a family and serving her community now cruelly silenced.
The incident, detailed in an official statement from the college dated today, August 22, 2025, reveals the heartbreaking circumstances: Theresa was electrocuted while attempting to plug an electrical appliance with an extension cable. Despite immediate efforts to save her at Mater Misericordiae Hospital, she could not be revived.
The college’s swift response included notifying the Hospital Administrator, engaging with her grieving family, and involving the Afikpo Divisional Police Command, who are conducting an ongoing investigation. A “Day of Mourning” was declared on August 18, 2025, with a Requiem Mass held in her honor, and the College Federation Week was canceled to pay tribute to her memory.
This tragedy echoes the devastating loss reported by Fellow Nurses Africa in our previous coverage of a student midwife’s electrocution at General Hospital, Ukana, on July 23, 2025—read our full report here. The repetition of such preventable incidents pierces the heart of our nursing family, raising urgent questions about the safety of our learning environments.
Fellow Nurses Africa extends our deepest condolences to Theresa’s husband, her family, and the Mater community, standing with them in their grief. We implore the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria and all stakeholders to act decisively, ensuring that no more of our bright lights are dimmed by such avoidable tragedies. Theresa’s spirit will endure in the care we continue to give—may her soul rest in eternal peace.
Fellow Nurses Africa is the independent voice of African nursing, we educate, inform and support the nursing profession.
