Sule Ambrose, 25, hoped to become a priest and was taking part in a performance of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ when he suddenly collapsed.
The cause of Ambrose’s collapse has not been determined but one witness, according to the Nigerian newspaper Vanguard, says that a witness to the incident said he collapse and began to bleed. Spectators assumed that the incident was part of the performance and it was not until after some time that Ambrose was rushed to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Ambrose had been studying at the Clariantian University of Nigeria seeking a degree in philosophy.
“Initially when it happened we thought it was a joke, and that it was part of the drama, it was when he could not get up that was when we knew it was a serious matter and he was rushed to the hospital,” Clariantian University student Michael Eluwa told Vanguard.
During Ambrose’s performance in the play, he collapsed and was taken to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced dead.
One person at the university said that people thought Ambrose was joking when he collapsed, thinking it was part of the drama, according to Vanguard, a Nigerian news outlet.
“Initially when it happened we thought it was a joke, and that it was part of the drama, it was when he could not get up that was when we knew it was a serious matter and he was rushed to hospital,” the person said.
Administrators at the university have suspended all Easter activities as a result of the incident, according to the report.
The school is located in southeastern Nigeria.