Metro
Final-Year OAU Student Crushed to Death by Commercial Bus
A 400-level student of the Management and Accounting Department, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Chiwendu Ebenezer, has been crushed to death by a commercial bus around the Mayfair area of the town.
PUNCH Metro gathered that Chiwendu was on her way to buy shawarma on Monday when the bus, which was said to have suffered brake failure, rammed into the motorcycle conveying her.
While the motorcyclist was said to have escaped, Chiwendu was not that lucky as the bus reportedly ran over her and left her with life-threatening injuries.
It was learnt that passersby, who witnessed the accident, rushed her to the university’s health centre, from where she was referred to the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital, where she reportedly died.
A source, who identified himself simply as Jude, said the eyewitnesses were initially scared of assisting her when the tragedy struck.
He said, “From what I gathered, she boarded a motorcycle to go and buy shawarma and got to Mayfair when the bus suffered brake failure and rammed into the motorcycle. The motorcyclist escaped but she couldn’t.
“People were scared of approaching her. They were just praying and looking for water. It was later that some of them summoned the courage to take her to the school’s health centre. When they got there, she was immediately referred to the OAUTH. The nurses, who attended to her, were crying, and she eventually died.”
A close friend of the deceased, who did not want his name in print, said Chiwendu died as a result of internal injuries, adding that the medical team said a post-mortem examination would be conducted on her corpse to determine the actual cause of death.
The friend said, “I was informed by one of our friends that she had an accident and was rushed to the OAUTH, but when I got there around 7pm, she was already dead. I visited the mortuary and observed that she had bruises on her hands, legs and face.
“From my discussions with the medical team, I was told that she had lost much blood and that the accident caused her to have a fractured rib, which pierced her heart.”
The Public Relations Officer, OAU, Abiodun Olanrewaju, while commiserating with the bereaved family, said some good Samaritans, accompanied by the Chief Security Officer of the institution, rushed Chiwendu to the OAUTH, adding that she died while doctors were battling to save her life.
Olanrewaju said, “What really happened was that our student was on a motorcycle and an interstate bus, which suffered brake failure, hit the motorcycle from behind and ran over the lady.
“Some good Samaritans, led by the university’s CSO, assisted in rushing the lady to the health centre of the university, where she was given first aid. From there, she was referred to the emergency unit of the OAUTH and she died 20 minutes later while the doctors were battling to save her life.
“On behalf of the university, I sympathise with the parents or guardians of the student. It is not easy losing a toddler not to talk of a final-year student to an interstate bus that developed a mechanical fault. We pray that the Lord will grant the course mates, the department, the parents and guardians the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss.”
The Punch
Following a video in circulation condemning the Police community over neglect regarding welfare and retirement benefits of retired police officers by a retired retired Superintendent of Police, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, has ordered a thorough investigation into the allegations.
The IGP, according to a statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Muyiwa Adejobi, has tasked the NPF Pensions Limited to urgently examine the claims, identify any possible lapses, and ensure that appropriate action is taken to address the concerns raised.
The Nigeria Police Force is not insensitive to the plight of its pensioners, many of whom dedicated their lives to the service and safety of our nation. The IGP views the welfare of both serving and retired officers as a priority and recognizes that timely and adequate pension administration is crucial to sustaining morale and institutional integrity. While efforts have consistently been made to improve the pension system, the IGP acknowledges the importance of constructive feedback in prompting necessary reforms.
The IGP therefore reassures all officers, both serving and retired, and their families of the Force’s commitment to improved welfare, and to building a system that honours their sacrifices. He urges stakeholders to remain calm and patient as the NPF Pensions carries out its investigations and engages relevant agencies to ensure lasting solutions.
Nigeria has the largest population of citizens without access to electricity globally, with 86.8 million people lacking supply as of 2023, according to the World Bank’s latest energy progress report.
The report, titled “Tracking SDG7: The Energy Progress Report 2025,” was released on Wednesday and assesses progress made toward Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG7), which focuses on ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all by 2030.
This marks the third consecutive year that Nigeria has ranked as the country with the highest electricity access deficit worldwide. The report also shows that only 61 per cent of Nigeria’s population had access to electricity in 2023, while just 26 per cent had access to clean cooking energy.
“Nigeria (86.8 million), the Democratic Republic of Congo (79.6 million), and Ethiopia (56.4 million) topped the list, together accounting for roughly a third of the entire global access deficit,” the World Bank said.
The report noted that among the 20 countries with the largest electricity access deficits, 18 are located in Sub-Saharan Africa. South Sudan had the lowest national access rate at 5 per cent, followed by Chad and Burundi at 12 per cent.
In sub-Saharan Africa, 35 million people gained access to electricity in 2023.
However, population growth over the same period was estimated at 30 million, resulting in a marginal net reduction in the electricity access gap, from 570 million people in 2022 to 565 million in 2023.
The region now accounts for 85 per cent of the global population without electricity, a significant increase from 50 per cent in 2010.
In contrast, Central and Southern Asia recorded the most progress between 2020 and 2023, reducing their electricity access deficit from 414 million in 2010 to 27 million in 2023.
Looking ahead to 2030, the World Bank report notes that the world has reduced the number of people without electricity access by 665 million since 2010. Twenty-one countries have achieved near-universal access, but challenges remain.
The International Energy Agency (IEA) projects that 645 million people will still be without electricity by 2030 if current policies persist.
In a bold move to promote safety consciousness and drive national development through strategic security collaboration, TochLight Africa, a niche news platform addressing issues on safety and security, is set to hold its maiden edition of The Tochlight Africa Safety Summit and Award (TASS2025), scheduled to hold on Thursday, July 3, 2025, at the prestigious LCCI Conference & Exhibition Center, located at 10, Nurudeen Olowopopo Street, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos.
Ms. Fanayajo Ranti, publisher of TheTochlightAfrica.com and convener of the event stated that TASS2025 aims to gather key stakeholders across the national security architecture, emergency response agencies, civil society, corporate institutions, community leaders, and policy influencers under one roof for strategic dialogue, recognition, and action.
“TASS2025 is not just a summit, it’s a clarion call to Nigerians to elevate the culture of safety and security. Our progress as a nation is deeply tied to how safe our environment is for business, education, governance, and daily life”, she added.
With the theme, “Bridging Security Gaps for a Safety-Conscious Society: A Holistic Approach”, the summit will tackle pressing issues affecting safety in Nigeria while proposing integrated solutions for sustainable peace, protection of lives and property, and national growth.
The event will feature panel discussions by top security experts and agency heads; Workshops on best practices in safety management; Exhibitions by emergency, safety and technology partners, and an awards ceremony honoring institutions and individuals championing safety and security in their sectors.
Expected attendees include senior representatives from the Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, FRSC, NDLEA, Fire Service, private security firms, and safety-focused NGOs, among others.
TASS2025 promises to be a high-impact convergence of minds and missions, inspiring actionable outcomes toward building a more resilient and secure Nigeria.
For media enquiries, partnership, or participation:
Email: thetorchlightafrica.gmail.com
Phone: 08067872858
Website: www.thetorchlightafrica.com
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Together, let’s build a safer Nigeria.
