Independence Day tragedy: Hit-and-run driver kills Taraba varsity student

Tragedy struck on Sunday, in Jalingo, Taraba State capital, as a hit-and-run driver killed a 400 level student of the Taraba State University.

The incident, which occurred on the day Nigeria marked its 63rd independence anniversary, was described as tragic by eyewitnesses.

The student, whose name was given as Joseph Afara, was said to have been on his way to withdraw money in one of the new generation banks located in the Roadblock area of Jalingo metropolis when the vehicle knocked him down.

An eyewitness, who spoke with newsmen alleged that the incident was caused by recklessness on the part of the driver.

“The driver in his attempt to gain entrance into the Jalingo Motor Park, made a reckless manoeuvre into the wrong lane, resulting in the head on collision”, he said.

Another eyewitness, who sells goods close to the motor park, also blamed the driver for the untimely death of the student.

The trader, who also craved anonymity, said if the driver had not attempted to manoeuvre his vehicle into a different lane, the accident would not have occurred.

The driver was also reported to have abandoned his vehicle and the student in a pool of blood and took to his heels in order to avoid being lynched by angry youths around the park.

The student, who did not die on the spot, was said to have given up the ghost shortly after he was rushed to the Federal Medical Centre in Jalingo metropolis.

Some members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, who also spoke with newsmen, regretted the driver’s action, stating that the leadership of the union will work round the clock to bring him to book.

Confirming the incident, an official of the Federal Road Safety Corps, who said he was not in the position to speak with journalists, said, “We are actually aware of the accident”.

He added that the driver will definitely be brought to book.