Unilorin: Accident kills one, injures others in Kwara state

A tragic incident occurred at the University of Ilorin (Unilorin) in Kwara state, yesterday, as some students and a mini bus driver got involved in a fatal accident at the school’s main gate, resulting in the death of a student.

Punch metro stated that it was a lone vehicle accident, and the victims were passengers on the Unilorin campus shuttle, also known as “korokope”.

A video of the accident that went viral on the internet, Thursday, showing the accident victims in agony on the road.

Additionally, the video depicted a female student covered in blood and seemingly lifeless, following the accident.

Another victim, a man in a suit, struggled to stand but lost control and repeatedly fell in his attempts

The spokesperson for the Kwara Police Command, Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, confirmed that one student died in the accident. 

However, other students, along with the driver, are currently receiving medical treatment at Unilorin Teaching Hospital.

“The bus driver was conveying students out of the school premises, just at the exit lane close to the school gate…

“Apparently, he lost control and the vehicle somersaulted while in motion.

“Unfortunately, one student lost her life, and other passengers sustained different injuries…

“But they are presently receiving treatment in the university hospital. 

“The shuttle driver is also receiving treatment”, Ejire-Adeyemi stated.

Accidents in Nigeria

Accidents are a frequent occurrence in Nigerian roads. Here are some of the accidents that happen in Nigeria:

Road Accidents:

Nigeria has the highest road accident death rates in Africa, evidently owing to its large population.

In Q2 2023, there were 2,967 road traffic crashes, an 8.56% increase from the previous quarter.

The majority of crashes were serious, as was the case with Unilorin, and most of the victims were male.

Boat Accidents:

In June 2023, a boat carrying around 300 passengers capsized on the River Niger in southwestern Nigeria.

More than 100 people drowned, and many more are missing.

The boat was traveling from Kwara State, the home of Unilorin, to Niger State after a wedding.

Causes of Accidents:

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) reveals that a number of factors are responsible for road traffic crashes in Nigeria.

These include:

• Speed violations
• Light/sign violations
• Wrongful overtaking
• Dangerous driving
• Tyre-bursting
• Break failures
• Route violations
• Bad roads

Efforts to Reduce Accidents:

The Federal Road Safety Corps has made efforts to address the problem of road accidents.

Amongst these efforts are:

• Increasing enforcement on the roads
• Improving policies and regulations to prevent crashes
• Using technology to quickly respond to accidents and save lives

About Unilorin

The University of Ilorin, also known as Unilorin, is a federal government-owned university located in Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria.

It was established in 1975 and has since become one of the most popular and respected universities in Nigeria.

The university has a large student body and offers a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate programs.

The programs across various faculties include Arts, Science, Engineering, Agriculture, and more.

It’s known for its academic excellence, research opportunities, and vibrant campus life.

Unilorin was established by a decree of the federal military government in August 1975.

It aims to provide more opportunities for Nigerians aspiring to acquire university education and generate high-level manpower.

It covers an expansive area of approximately 15,000 hectares.

That makes it the largest university in Nigeria and one of the largest in Africa by landmass.

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