Tragedy struck on Monday evening at the gate of
Micheal Okpara Unversity of Agriculture Umudike,
Abia State, as a student of the institution was hit
and killed instantly by a commuter bus belonging to
Akwa Ibom Transport Company.
Irked by the incident , students of the institution
were said to have set the bus on fire.
Crashes have become a regular occurrence on the
deplorable Umuahia – Ikot Ekpene federal highway
largely due to reckless driving by commercial bus
drivers.
According to an eye witness, the victim, a first-year
female student was said to be going back to her
hostel after lectures when the bus knocked her
down in front of the university gate where she was
standing.
According to reports the victim was waiting for a
friend who had gone across the road to make some
purchases.
Unconfirmed reports had it hat the bus which was
on high speed lost control and veered towards the
campus gate in front of the highway before hitting
the unsuspecting victim who was waiting for her
friend.
The driver of the bus was however said to have
escaped unhurt to a nearby police station to avoid
being lynched by the irate students.
Meanwhile, some students who reacted on the
incident blamed commercial drivers plying the road
for excessive speeding, which they said had resulted
in several deaths on the highway.
They therefore called on the Federal Government to
ensure urgent rehabilitation of the road, which has
claimed so many lives including some national
executive members of the National Association of
Nigerian Students involved in a ghastly auto crash
on the road last year.
When contacted, the Abia State Police Public
Relations Officer, Mr. Geofrey Ogbonna, confirmed
the incident describing it as very unfortunate.
He said investigations ha commenced into the
incident, adding that the wreckage of the bus had
been removed to avert obstruction and further
accidents at the scene.
He appealed for calm as efforts were being made to
ensure drivers plying the busy road obey traffic
rules.
www.punchng.com/news/students-set-bus-ablaze-over-colleagues-killing-in-abia/

May God grant d bereaved family d courage to bear d lost. May her soul find eternal rest in d Lord