On Thursday, a reckless driver killed a final-year student at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) in Ile-Ife, casting a pall over the institution.
According to Abiodun Olarewaju, the institution’s spokeswoman, the victim, a student in the Department of Foreign Languages, was on her way to the school to submit her project when she was knocked down while crossing the road.
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 the 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, 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,” Mr Odedire quoted Mr Bamire.
The vice-chancellor was also quoted as urging the deceased’s parents, siblings, family, friends, and classmates to find peace in God and pray to the Lord to “give us all the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss.”