A devastating incident occurred yesterday at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, when Esu Rita Ema, a final-year student from the Department of Foreign Languages, tragically lost her life at the school gate while on her way to submit her final year project.
According to a statement by the university’s Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Olarewaju, the fatal accident involved a Lexus vehicle with Abuja registration number ABJ 427 LQ, driven by Lasisi Sodiq Segun.
Rita was crossing the Ife-Ibadan expressway near the campus gate when the vehicle struck her. The accident resulted in severe injuries, with Rita losing both her legs and her head being severed.
Emergency services from the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) arrived promptly, recovering her remains and transporting them to the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex mortuary.
The driver of the vehicle has reportedly been arrested by the Nigerian Police and is under investigation.
In response to this tragic event, the Vice-Chancellor of OAU, Professor Adebayo Simeon Bamire, expressed his condolences to Rita’s family through the Dean of Students Affairs, Professor Adeolu Odedire.
‘If it is unfortunate to lose a domestic animal, how can anyone quantify the loss of a child, most especially a grown-up child who was a young, promising adult with a lot of potential? A final year student, for that matter“. Therefore, he appealed to his parents, siblings, family, friends, and classmates to seek solace in God,” the VC said.
