Two students of Borno State University, BOSU, have lost their lives in a fatal motor accident in the Jimtilo area along the Maiduguri-Damaturu road.
The Information and Public Relations Officer of the university, Abba A. Massa, confirmed that the incident occurred on Wednesday.
He said several students sustained various degrees of injuries and were evacuated to Umaru Shehu Hospital, Maiduguri and the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital.
“The students, a male final-year student and a female part-two student, lost their lives when a truck belonging to Dangote, traveling at high speed, lost control and ran into the BOSU students’ bus while they were on their way home after their semester exams,” the statement said.
According to the statement, BOSU’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Babagana Gutti, the Head of Service of Borno State, Barrister Malam Fannami, the Registrar of BOSU, Zanna Mustapha Kashim, and some management staff were also present through the night to provide necessary support to the victims.
In a show of solidarity and empathy, a bus full of BOSU students also came to sympathize with their colleagues and donate blood, which was critically needed to save the lives of their classmates and schoolmates.
The statement further said that the two deceased students would be buried on Thursday, December 12, 2024.
Meanwhile, Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, has expressed sorrow over the auto accident that claimed the lives of two students and left 16 critically injured along the Maiduguri-Damaturu Road on Wednesday.
In a statement on Thursday by his spokesperson, Dauda Illiya, the governor extended his condolences to the Borno State University community, parents, and guardians of the affected students.
“I extend my deepest sympathies to the families of the affected students, the management, staff, and students of Borno State University over this unfortunate incident.
“I am deeply touched by this tragic accident involving a students’ bus and a trailer, which occurred as the students were returning after completing their examinations,” Zulum said.
The accident, which occurred in the Njimtilo area, involved a truck belonging to Dangote Group and a university bus conveying students.
While eight of the injured students have been discharged and are recuperating, others remain hospitalised.
To prevent future occurrences, Zulum directed the Ministry of Works to fast-track the completion of the ongoing Maiduguri Trailer Park project.
“I have instructed the Ministry of Works to ensure the immediate completion of the trailer park. Once operational, trailers will no longer be permitted into the city centre, a move aimed at reducing intra-city road accidents within the metropolis,” the governor announced.
He further assured all that the state government is committed to taking “deliberate and decisive measures to prevent a recurrence of such a tragic incident.”
In addition to these measures, Zulum pledged that the state government would cover all medical expenses for the injured students and personally visit them in the hospital to extend his sympathy.
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