A 15-year-old boy, Gift Oberhirhi, has died in Delta State after allegedly taking an excessive dose of a prescription drug believed to aid weight gain.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Bright Edafe, confirmed the incident on Thursday, describing it as both tragic and avoidable.
He said the teenager ingested several tablets of dexamethasone, reportedly given to him by a friend, Destiny Akpofure, who claimed the drug could help increase appetite and body weight.
According to Edafe, the boy became ill days later and eventually died from complications linked to the overdose.
“A very sad case of a 15-year-old who took sachets of dexamethasone tablets and swallowed several tablets at once,” he said.
“Asked why they were taking the drug, his friend… said they were taking it to make them gain weight and eat more.”
He added that the victim did not immediately disclose what he had taken and only did so when his condition worsened.
“The boy fell sick days later… He died four days later,” Edafe stated.
ALSO READ: Plateau killings: Tinubu orders installation of 5,000 AI surveillance cameras
Akpofure, who is now in police custody, told investigators he got the drug from another friend at a party and had taken some himself before handing it over to the deceased.
“I asked him to introduce me to a medicine that would make me gain weight… he said it would make me eat, sleep, and get fat,” he said.
Police said the teenager reportedly consumed about 15 tablets without medical guidance and died while being rushed for treatment.
Edafe noted that the case highlights the dangers of drug misuse, especially among young people, adding that investigations are ongoing.