A tragedy occurred today at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, when a reckless driver killed a final-year student of the institution, throwing the university community into mourning.
The victim, a student of the Department of Foreign Languages, was at the school to submit her project when she was knocked down while crossing the road to enter the school, according to a statement by the institution’s spokesman, Mr Abiodun Olarewaju.
The student, identified as Esu Rita Ema, was crossing the Ife-Ibadan axis of the road at the campus gate when the accident happened.
“Members of the Federal Road Safety Corps came to recover the corpse of the student and have deposited same at the mortuary of the OAU Teaching Hospital.
“Personnel of the Nigerian Police have arrested the driver for investigation and further action,” the statement read.
Meanwhile, the Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof. Adebayo Bamire, has sent a condolence message to the parents of the deceased through the Dean of Students Affairs, Prof. Adeolu Odedire.
“It is very sad to lose a domestic animal, how can anyone quantify the loss of a child?
“The incident is particularly galling as the victim is a young, promising adult with a lot of potential. A final year student for that matter,” Odedire quoted Bamire as saying.
The Vice-Chancellor was further quoted as appealing to the parents, siblings, family, friends, and classmates of the deceased to take solace in God while praying to the Lord to “give us all the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss.”
(NAN)