Tragic Accident on Ikangba/Agoro Road: Student D!es During Ongoing WASSCE Examination in Ijebu Ode
A heartbreaking tragedy occurred on Friday, May 23, 2025, along the newly rehabilitated Ikangba/Agoro road in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State, when a truck lost control and rammed into a group of students returning home from Seico Secondary School, Ikangba. Among the students was a girl who was reportedly writing the ongoing West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), who tragically lost her life on the spot. This devastating incident has once again drawn attention to the recurring road safety issues on this stretch of road, despite recent government rehabilitation efforts.
What Happened on May 23, 2025?
The accident took place in the late afternoon as students who had just finished writing their WASSCE papers were heading back home. Eyewitness accounts describe the scene as chaotic and deeply distressing. According to Mr. Eko Nicholas, chairman of the Ogun State chapter of the Campaign for Democratic and Workers Rights (CDWR), the truck was traveling from the Molipa end of the road when it suddenly veered off course.
“No one knew what exactly caused the truck to lose control and come crashing into the students walking from the opposite direction. The vehicle then smashed into the fence of a nearby Redeemed Christian Church beside the road,” Mr. Nicholas told Punch Newspaper in a recent interview.
He further explained that the students were clearly identified as WASSCE candidates because they were still holding their examination question papers. “One of the students, a female, died instantly, while another female student was critically injured. We are all praying she recovers,” he said, expressing both sorrow and hope.
Rising Number of Road Accidents Since Road Rehabilitation
The Ikangba/Agoro road had recently undergone government-led rehabilitation intended to improve travel safety and reduce accidents in the area. However, this tragic event marks the sixth fatal accident on this road since February 2025, with many others sustaining injuries. This rising trend is alarming to local residents and human rights activists alike.
Nicholas lamented the failure of the government to implement necessary safety measures despite the road's improvement. “This is yet another needless death on the Ikangba/Agoro road, bringing the number of lives lost since February to six, alongside numerous injuries,” he said, emphasizing the gravity of the situation.
The human rights activist went on to criticize the lack of speed breakers or road bumps that could regulate vehicle speeds and prevent reckless driving, which he believes is a key factor behind the frequent accidents.
Calls for Immediate Government Intervention: Speed Breakers and Street Lights
Mr. Nicholas’s organization, the Campaign for Democratic and Workers Rights, has repeatedly called on the Ogun State government to install speed breakers and street lights along this road. These safety infrastructures are critical to protecting pedestrians—especially schoolchildren—who use this road daily.
“The government must urgently install speed breakers and street lights to stem these avoidable and painful deaths. The CDWR has made this call several times before, but no action has been taken so far,” Nicholas said in a press statement.
He stressed that the presence of several schools along the Ikangba/Agoro road means numerous children and teenagers regularly trek to and from school, making the road a hotspot for potential tragedy if the government does not act swiftly.
Official Confirmation from Ogun State Traffic Enforcement
The Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency (TRACE) also confirmed the incident through its Public Relations Officer, Babatunde Akinbiyi. He verified that TRACE officers stationed near the accident scene had responded promptly to the crash.
“TRACE officers around the area have confirmed the tragic incident where one school pupil died,” Akinbiyi said. His confirmation aligns with local reports and highlights the severity of the accident.
The Bigger Picture: Road Safety in Ogun State
This incident on Ikangba/Agoro road is not isolated but part of a larger issue of road safety across Ogun State and Nigeria at large. Despite efforts to rehabilitate key roads, many fail to address critical safety features such as speed bumps, pedestrian crossings, street lighting, and proper signage.
In many Nigerian communities, reckless driving, poor road maintenance, and lack of enforcement have made travel increasingly dangerous, especially for vulnerable groups like schoolchildren. The sad reality is that these avoidable deaths are often due to neglect of road safety infrastructure.
Impact on Families and Community
The death of the young student has left the Seico Secondary School community and the wider Ijebu Ode population grieving. Many parents and teachers have expressed concern over the safety of their children and the urgent need for preventative measures.
A local teacher from Seico Secondary School who spoke anonymously said, “Our students are supposed to focus on their education, but they face life-threatening risks simply walking home from exams. It’s heartbreaking and unacceptable.”
Parents are calling on the government not only to provide infrastructure but also to ensure enforcement of traffic laws. “We cannot continue to lose our children to road accidents when the solution is as simple as installing speed breakers,” one parent lamented.
Conclusion: Urgent Need for Action to Save Lives
The tragic loss of a student during the ongoing WASSCE examination period is a stark reminder that government rehabilitation projects must go beyond resurfacing roads to include critical safety features. The call for speed breakers, street lighting, and increased enforcement is not merely a demand but a necessity to save lives on the Ikangba/Agoro road.
Until these measures are implemented, communities will continue to live under the shadow of avoidable accidents and heartbreak. The Ogun State government must respond immediately to these calls from the Campaign for Democratic and Workers Rights and other civil society groups to prevent further tragedies.
