It was all tears at the Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS) following the death of two students. Bilyaminu Adamu, a 200-Level Mathematics student, and Aliyu Muhammad, a 300-Level Agricultural Science student, in a road crash on their way back to school after three months break. MAHMUD ABDULSALAM and IBRAHIM ADEYEMI report.
THE 2017/18 academic session began at the Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS), on a tragic note. It was all tears at the Departments of Mathematics and Agriculture on Sunday when news of the death of two students broke.
Bilyaminu Adamu, a 200-Level Mathematics student, and Aliyu Muhammad, a 300-Level Agricultural Science student, died in a road crash on their way back to school after three months break. The bus conveying them to Sokoto was involved in an accident with two other vehicles. The accident occurred around 7:30 pm at Shagari Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
CAMPUSLIFE gathered that another UDUS student, whose name could not be ascertained, is in critical condition with his mother at the Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital (UDUTH). It was learnt that the student and his mother had multiple fractures. The bus driver is also said to be in critical condition.
The bus was said to have collided with a firewood-laden pick-up which attempted to overtake another vehicle. Many were injured in the multipe accident.
CAMPUSLIFE gathered that Aliyu died on the spot; Bilyaminu passed on while being rushed to the hospital.
Aliyu’s body was returned to Maru Village, his hometown in Zamfara State, on January 22 for burial.
Members of the school management team and students gathered for the Janazah (burial prayer) for the late Bilyaminu at the UDUS’cemetery.
Students and lecturers prayed for the repose of the victims’ souls. The Deputy Vice-Chancellor Academics, Prof A.G. Yahaya, and his counterpart in Administration, Prof M. I. Saheed, led top management members to the funeral.
A senior lecturer simply identified as Dr. Gambo, who led the Janazah, prayed for the repose of the souls of the departed students, noting that death was an inevitable end.
In his short sermon, Gambo said: “Allah has decreed that every soul must taste death and it will surely meet us, whether we prepare for it or not. Death comes without any prior notice. We must be preparing for it by performing noble deeds and shunning acts of transgressions.”
Fighting back tears, the Students’ Union Government (SUG) President, Idrees Maibasira, described the students’ death as a great loss to the university community.
He said: “As leaders of students’ body, we are deeply touched by this tragic incident. I felt so bad when the news of the terrible accident reached me. The fact that these fallen colleagues were said to be among the brilliant students of their departments saddens us.”
The clerk of the Students’ Representative Assembly, Ibrahim Ahmad, expressed shock, saying the session was taking off with a sorrowful story event. “May Almighty Allah console the families of the victims,” he prayed at the burial.
The Police Divisional Headquarters in Shagari Local Government Area sent its report to the families of the deceased and other affected persons. In its preliminary report on the accident, the police revealed that the accident was caused by impatience and recklessness of the pick-up driver.
Students’ Affairs Dean Prof Adamu Aliero sympathised with the parents and relatives of the late students. He said the institution regretted the death of the students, adding that death remained inevitable for mankind.
