- Riotous celebration claims life of varsity student in IMT, Enugu
- Rector, Mr. Etim bans wild celebrations, postpones exams
- IMT declares 3 days mourning, advises students on unguided behaviour
It is indeed a black Monday at Institute of Management and Technology, IMT, Enugu as a female student, Chiamaka Ozoigbondu has died in a car crash during riotous celebration on Monday, September 30, 2024.
WITHIN NIGERIA source, Uche Asogwa, told our reporter that “we were in our classroom, waiting for lecture when we heard loud noise. We rushed outside only to see a car already rammed onto a container inside the campus.
“The driver of the car is said to have taken some alcohol given the speed and manner she was driving.”
Further checks reveal that the incident occurred on campus as students marked the conclusion of their final year examinations.
Other witnesses reported that the driver, a graduating student, was driving recklessly amid the festivities when the vehicle suffered a suspected brake failure. The car veered off course, plowing into a crowd of students before tragically running over the victim.
The victim, reportedly not an IMT student, was a student of Peaceland University, Enugu who had come to check on a friend.
In addition to the deceased, two other female students from IMT’s public administration department sustained injuries in the incident. They are currently receiving treatment at Posh Hospital in New Haven, with one student facing a potential transfer to the Orthopaedic Hospital for a fractured leg.
IMT Management reacts to the incident
Nevertheless, the IMT’s Acting Rector, Emeka Ejim, confirmed the incident and expressed deep sorrow over the loss.
In his words, “this tragic event serves as a painful reminder of the consequences of riotous and excessive celebration,” he stated. “We had repeatedly cautioned students against such behavior.
“The girl that died is not an IMT student, but (she is of) Peaceland. She came to sign off one of the injured students,” Mr Ejim said.
WITHIN NIGERIA findings showed that Peaceland is a private university located a few miles away from the IMT.
In response to the tragedy, IMT management indefinitely suspended all final year examinations. Ejim announced an emergency meeting scheduled for Wednesday to assess the situation and determine next steps.
According to him “we need to investigate what led to this incident and ensure it never happens again.”
As the institution mourns, calls for accountability and a reevaluation of campus celebration policies are growing louder. The tragedy serves as a somber reminder of the need for responsible conduct, especially during pivotal moments in students’ lives.
Suspension of the examination
Mr Ejim announced the indefinite suspension of the final year examinations in the institution.
“The AB and the management will be having an emergency meeting tomorrow, Wednesday, 2 October 2024, at 9 00 a.m. to deliberate further,” he said.
The institution’s spokesperson, told newsmen on Tuesday that the examination was suspended so that management could investigate the incident.
“We want to find out what happened and how it happened.
“Despite all our warnings, these students still went ahead to do the type of celebrations that led to this incident,” Mr Eze, a lawyer, said.
WITHIN NIGERIA gathered that such celebration has become a common feature in tertiary institutions especially in the south East zone.
However, with the latest incident in IMT, there has been call to ban such wild celebration as many of which had led to sad end.
Two years ago, three University of Nigeria, Nsukka graduating students escaped death by whiskers when their car somersaulted two times at Nru junction during signing out celebration.