A female student of Seico Secondary School in Ikangba, Ijebu Ode, Ogun State, who was participating in the ongoing West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), lost her life in a road accident on Friday.
According to findings by Saturday PUNCH, another student from the same school sustained severe injuries in the accident.
The accident happened along the recently renovated Ikangba/Agoro road while the students were on their way home after finishing their exam.
Advertisement
A local resident, Eko Nicholas, told PUNCH that the tragedy happened when a truck, reportedly coming from the Molipa end of the road, lost control, swerved, and collided with the students walking in the opposite direction.
READ MORE: Speeding Jeep Rams Into Lagos Minibus, Injures Driver, Knocks Passenger Unconscious
The truck subsequently collided with the fence of a Redeemed Christian Church located alongside the road.
“The students were clearly WASSCE candidates as they were holding their exam question papers. Sadly, one female student died on the spot, while another female was critically injured. We are all praying she recovers,” Nicholas said.
Nicholas, chairman of the Ogun State chapter of the Campaign for Democratic and Workers Rights, voiced his worries about the increasing number of accidents on the road following its rehabilitation.
He blamed the ongoing accidents on the government’s neglect in installing speed bumps or other traffic control measures to deter reckless driving.
Nicholas said, “This is yet another tragic death on the Ikangba/Agoro road, bringing the total number of fatalities since February to six, with several others injured.
“We urge the state government to immediately construct speed breakers and install street lights to prevent further unnecessary loss of lives.
“CDWR has repeatedly called on the government to act but to no avail. With numerous schools located along this road and children commuting daily, the absence of speed control measures is a grave safety concern.”
Babatunde Akinbiyi, the Public Relations Officer of the Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency, confirmed the occurrence of the accident, saying “TRACE officers at the scene have confirmed the tragic incident in which one school pupil lost her life.”
