The management of Rivers State University (RSU) in Port Harcourt has imposed a ban on undergraduate students driving personal vehicles on campus during evening hours, following the death of a 21-year-old female student who was struck by a speeding car driven by another undergraduate. The Acting Registrar, Idanyingi Daminabo, announced the new measures on Friday while addressing journalists in Port Harcourt.
Fatal Accident Triggers Emergency Meeting
Mr Daminabo said the decision came after the tragic incident on Tuesday, when Eno Udoson, a 21-year-old female student, was allegedly hit by a speeding vehicle driven by an undergraduate on campus. He expressed condolences to her family, friends, and colleagues. Preliminary findings indicated that the accident involved two students: Darlington Onuaku from the Department of Development and Communication Studies and Obinna Ikechi from the Department of Computer Science. Both students have been arrested and handed over to the police for further investigation and possible prosecution.
The university management convened an emergency meeting on Wednesday to adopt additional safety and security measures. Mr Daminabo noted that previous regulations, including speed limits, speed bumps, and sanctions for reckless driving, had been in place but were not sufficient to prevent the tragedy.
New Driving Restrictions for Undergraduates
Under the new directives, undergraduate students are prohibited from driving personal vehicles into campus between 4 p.m. and 7 a.m. Students who bring vehicles to the university must park them at the designated car park near the main gate and use the university’s authorised shuttle services for movement within the campus. Postgraduate and Centre for Continuing Education students are allowed to drive personal vehicles on campus only upon presentation of valid university identity cards.
Mr Daminabo warned that any student found engaging in reckless driving would face disciplinary action, including suspension, disciplinary proceedings, and impoundment of the vehicle involved. The approved speed limit within the university remains 30 kilometres per hour on major roads and 20 kilometres per hour in residential areas. Additionally, visiting hours to student hostels will now end at 6 p.m. daily to strengthen campus security.
Police Confirm Arrests
The Rivers State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of two individuals in connection with the death of Eno Udoson. The command’s spokesperson, Blessing Agabe, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, stated that the suspects are linked to the fatal accident. The victim’s body has been deposited in a mortuary while investigations continue. “Investigations are ongoing, and anyone found culpable will face the full weight of the law,” she said.
Lecturer Calls for Stronger Enforcement
Reacting to the incident, a relative of the deceased and a lecturer at the university, Moore Mike-Ogburia, said Ms Udoson was returning to the staff quarters when the accident occurred. He claimed that two drivers, who were allegedly racing, collided and fatally struck the student. Mr Mike-Ogburia called on law enforcement to ensure that those responsible are prosecuted. He described the drivers as reckless and maintained that the accident could have been prevented through stricter enforcement of traffic regulations on campus. “The death of Eno could have been avoided if, in previous cases, offending vehicles had been impounded and the drivers arrested and prosecuted. Similar accidents occur almost every semester,” he said.
Preventing Future Tragedies
The new measures aim to prevent a recurrence of such tragedies and ensure the safety of students, staff, and visitors. The university urges all members of the community to comply with the regulations and cooperate with security personnel.
