OAU students seek justice for colleague killed in road crash

The Students’ Union of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, on Friday, called for safety measures on the Ife-Ibadan Expressway following the death of a final-year student of the institution, Esu Ema.

They also sought the prosecution of the driver suspected to be behind the crash that claimed the student’s life.

The management of the institution on Thursday announced the death of Ema, who was allegedly killed by a speeding driver, identified as Lasisi Sodiq, near the campus gate.

In a release, the Public Relations Officer for the institution, Abiodun Olanrewaju, said the deceased student with the 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.”

Olanrewaju further explained that the student was going to the campus to submit her final year project to her supervisor when she was knocked down while crossing the Ife-Ibadan Road.

The university noted that the police arrested the driver.

The students’ union president, Omoboriowo Damilola; Secretary-General, Babatimehin Kínfẹ́ọsi, and PRO, Aka Daniel, in a joint statement, demanded immediate steps from the federal and state governments to prevent such incidents from reoccurring.

“It is important that the government prioritises the implementation of key infrastructure and safety measures to protect the lives of our students,” they said.

The union sought the establishment of a designated garage for Lagos-Ibadan buses, noting that “this will create a specific area for bus routes and parking, reduce congestion and ensure clear visibility on the highway intersection for our students. Safety on this road must be guaranteed for all our students.”

The union also demanded enforcement of speed limits on the road and sought that speed bumps be installed on the expressway as well as “functioning pedestrian bridges outside the campus gate, particularly on the Ife-Ibadan Road.”

In the same vein, the union president in a separate letter directed to the Osun State Commissioner of Police, Umar Abba, demanded the diligent prosecution of the suspect behind the crash that led to the death of the student.

“We respectfully request that the case be handled with the utmost seriousness and that the suspect be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” the president said.