University of Rivers prohibits nighttime vehicular movement within campus premises following fatal incident involving student

The Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, has imposed a ban on undergraduate students driving personal vehicles on campus during certain hours, specifically between 4 p.m. and 7 a.m., in response to the fatal accident involving a 21-year-old student.

n

This decision was announced by the Acting Registrar, Dr Idanyingi Daminabo, while addressing journalists in Port Harcourt on Friday, following the death of the student who was allegedly knocked down by a speeding vehicle.

n

Dr Daminabo expressed condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of the deceased, Eno Udoson, who was struck by a vehicle driven by an undergraduate on the campus on Tuesday.

n

Preliminary findings indicate that the accident involved two students, Darlington Onuaku of the Department of Development and Communication Studies and Obinna Ikechi of the Department of Computer Science, both of whom have been arrested and handed over to the police for further investigation and possible prosecution.

n

The university had previously introduced speed limits, speed bumps, and sanctions to regulate vehicular movement, but additional safety measures were adopted after an emergency management meeting on Wednesday, according to the registrar.

n

Under the new directives, undergraduate students are prohibited from driving personal vehicles into campus between 4 p.m. and 7 a.m., and must instead park their vehicles at the designated car park near the main gate and use the institution’s authorised shuttle services for movement within the campus.

n

Postgraduate and Centre for Continuing Education students will only be allowed to drive personal vehicles on campus upon presentation of valid university identity cards, while any student found engaging in reckless driving will face suspension, disciplinary proceedings, and impoundment of the vehicle involved.

n

Visiting hours to student hostels will now end at 6 p.m. daily, and the approved speed limit remains 30 kilometres per hour on major roads and 20 kilometres per hour in residential areas, as announced by the registrar.

n

These new measures aim to prevent a recurrence and ensure the safety of students, staff, and visitors, according to Dr Daminabo.

n

The Rivers State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of two suspects in connection with the student’s death, with the command’s spokesperson, ASP Blessing Agabe, stating that the suspects were linked to the fatal accident that occurred along Road A within the university campus.

n

The victim’s body has been deposited in a mortuary, and investigations are ongoing, with ASP Agabe warning that anyone found culpable will face the full weight of the law.

n

A relative of the deceased and lecturer at the university, Mr Moore Mike-Ogburia, alleged that Udoson was returning to the staff quarters when two drivers, who were allegedly racing, collided and fatally struck her, and called for the prosecution of those responsible.

n

Mr Mike-Ogburia described the drivers as reckless and argued that stricter enforcement of traffic regulations could have prevented the tragedy, stating that similar accidents occur almost every semester.

n

He urged the university authorities and relevant agencies to strengthen road safety measures to prevent future occurrences, noting that the death of Eno could have been avoided if offending vehicles had been impounded and the drivers arrested and prosecuted in previous cases.