A final year student of Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Edo State, has died after a motorcade celebration ended in a fatal crash on Monday.
The student, whose identity had not been confirmed as of Tuesday, was part of a convoy of fresh graduates who took to the road to celebrate after completing their final examinations.
A Facebook page, Inside Edo, first shared news of the incident. The post said the crash happened at Ujoelen, near a primary school, shortly after the group finished their exams.
Inside Edo wrote, “A tragic accident has occurred at Ujoelen, close to the primary school, resulting in the death of a newly graduated student of Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma. According to eyewitnesses, the crash happened during an attempted overtaking by one of the vehicles involved. The risky manoeuvre reportedly led to a loss of control, causing the fatal incident. Residents rushed to the scene, but the victim could not be saved.”
The News Agency of Nigeria also reported that the group had been driving recklessly before one of the cars hit a stationary truck. The deceased was said to be among the students in the convoy.
“He was reportedly part of a convoy of fresh graduates who took to the highway shortly after their signing out activities. Witnesses said the group drove recklessly and failed to observe basic safety rules. The tragedy occurred when the deceased attempted to overtake a moving truck but collided with a vehicle parked along the road,” NAN said.
The Edo State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Cyril Mathew, confirmed the crash. He said, “one person died and five others were injured”.
Mathew said, The students, after writing their last paper, took to the road in a convoy. In the process, one of them overtook another vehicle and rammed into a stationary truck.
The injured students were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment. Authorities are urging students and motorists to avoid dangerous celebrations and obey traffic rules to prevent such tragedies.
