The Ikot Osurua campus of Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic (AkwaPoly) in Ikot Ekpene local government area is in mourning after a fatal accident claimed the lives of two female students and a motorcyclist. The tragic incident prompted the institution to defer ongoing examinations.
The State’s Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Mr. Mathew Olonisaye, confirmed the unfortunate occurrence on Tuesday. The accident, involving a truck loaded with soft drinks and a motorcyclist transporting the students, transpired around 3:30 pm on Monday, resulting in the immediate demise of the three individuals.
Olonisaye attributed the accident to wrongful overtaking and expressed condolences to the school authorities and parents of the deceased. The FRSC spokesman emphasized the importance of adhering to road safety rules to prevent avoidable fatalities.
The victims, Abasifreke Okon and Irene Edwin, both National Diploma (ND 2) students of Science Laboratory Technology (SLT), were en route to procure materials for their practical examinations when the tragic incident unfolded. Abasifreke Okon hailed from Ikot Abasi Local Government Area, while Irene Edwin was from Ibesikpo Asutan LGA.
The Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the school, Gloria Samuel, conveyed the institution’s Rector, Dr. Moses Umobong’s deep empathy for the parents, friends, and associates of the deceased. Dr. Umobong deemed the incident “very unfortunate” and suspended ongoing examinations in honor of the departed students.
ImaAbasi Effiong, one of the grieving students, described the close friendship between the deceased, stating they were “like conjoined twins.” The sudden loss has left the campus community in mourning, as the students grapple with the untimely termination of their colleagues’ lives during the final stages of their academic journey.