On Monday, two female students from Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic, Ikot Osurua, were crushed to death by a truck.
The incident occurred on Aba Road in the Ikot Ekpene local government region, a short distance from the school’s grounds and close to the intersection with Ikot Inyang village.
It was discovered that the girls were instantly killed when the car’s driver lost control and crashed into them.
It was discovered that the deceased, Abasifreke Okon and Irene Edwin, from the local government areas of Ikot Abasi and Ibesikpo Asutan, respectively, were getting ready for their practical exam, which was scheduled for this coming Wednesday.
The deceased, ND 2 Science Laboratory Technology students, described as “besties and inseparable twins,” were supposed to have completed their academic programme after their exams on Wednesday.
It was discovered after the tragedy that the Polytechnic administration had postponed the exams because numerous classmates of the deceased were reported to have wept excessively during the evacuation of the victims’ remains to the mortuary.
Confirming the incident, Akwa Ibom State Sector Commander, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Matthew Olonisaye, attributed the loss of lives to reckless driving and non-adherence to the rules guiding road usage.
Olonisaye expressed sympathy to the relatives of the departed while pressing drivers to prioritise car maintenance, emphasising that accidents are preventable rather than random events.
“It actually happened; it’s because of loss of control by the driver. We advise drivers to abide with the rules that guide the usage of the road, they should not be in a hurry.
“Drivers should also make vehicle maintenance a priority for any life lost cannot come back. An accident does not just happen; it is caused.
“I commiserate with the families of those who lost their lives,” he stated.