A tragic incident unfolded yesterday at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) in Ile-Ife, when Esu Rita Ema, a final-year student from the Department of Foreign Languages, lost her life near the school gate while on her way to submit her final year project.
According to a statement from 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 she was struck by the vehicle. The impact caused severe injuries, resulting in the loss of both her legs and the tragic severing of her head.
Emergency services from the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) arrived quickly, 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 currently under investigation.
In response to the tragic incident, the Vice-Chancellor of OAU, Professor Adebayo Simeon Bamire, extended 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.