A final-year student of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, identified as Esu Rita Ema, tragically lost her life on Thursday after being struck by a vehicle on the Ife-Ibadan expressway near the university campus.
The incident occurred as Ema, a student of the Department of Foreign Languages, was reportedly on her way to submit her final year project.
According to Vanguard, she was attempting to cross the highway when a speeding Lexus vehicle, bearing Abuja registration number ABJ 427 LQ, hit her.
An eyewitness, Tosin, who was at the scene, recounted the harrowing moment: “She was trying to cross the road when the car came at high speed and knocked her down. It was a devastating sight.”
The Public Relations Officer of OAU, Abiodun Olarewaju, confirmed the incident in a statement, describing it as “tragic and unfortunate.”
He provided further details, revealing that the student, ESU RITA EMA with Matriculation Number FRM/2019/041 is a final year student of the Department of Foreign Language and was on her way to submit her final year project to her supervisor when she was killed by the Lexus car driver.
“ESU RITA EMA of the department of Foreign Languages, with Matriculation Number FRM/2019/041 was knocked down and killed by a Lexus car with Abuja Registration Number ABJ 427 LQ driven by one LASISI Sodiq Segun.
“The student, who was said to be coming to the campus to submit her final year project to her supervisor, was crossing the Ife – Ibadan axis of road at the campus gate when the accident happened.
“The members of the Federal Road Safety Corps came to recover the corpse of the student and deposited same at the mortuary of the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex at about 12:35pm while the Officers of the Nigerian Police have arrested the driver for investigation and further necessary action”, it stated.
Meanwhile, the Vice-Chancellor of the University, Professor Simeon Bamire, has sent condolence message to the parents of the deceased through the Dean, Students Affairs, Professor Adeolu Odedire.
