Four pupils from Egbolo community in Igalamela-Odolu Local Government Area of Kogi State have been confirmed dead after a truck conveying them to school in neighbouring Ofuloko lost control and fell into a river on Monday morning.
As reported by Daily Post, the incident, which occurred around 8:30 a.m., left several other children injured, prompting residents to rush to the scene to rescue pupils trapped beneath the vehicle.
Witnesses blocked the road shortly after the crash, accusing the government of neglect and lamenting that Egbolo has no functional school, forcing young children to trek long distances through unsafe routes to attend classes in nearby villages.
A grieving parent, who lost his son, accused the government of neglecting Egbolo for years and called for urgent action to stop further incidents.
A youth leader, Usman Idrisu, said the tragic accident happened around 8 a.m. when a truck transporting building materials also ferried some pupils heading to Ofuloko Primary School.
He explained that the truck lost control on a hill after crossing a bridge and rolled backward into the river, killing four children and injuring many others.
“The truck could not climb the hill after it crossed the bridge and rolled backward before plunging into the river.
“We are seriously grieved in the Egbolo community for the death of four of our children who died in the cause of seeking education,” he lamented.
Idrisu added that despite Egbolo’s large population, the community has no primary school, forcing children to endure long walks to Ofuloko for basic education.
He appealed to Governor Ahmed Ododo to establish a primary school in the community to prevent further tragedies.
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