By Aminat Babatunde
The Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin, community was left mourning on Monday following the news of the passing of one of its students, Abass Babatunde.
Babatunde, a Mass Communication ND 2 student was said to have died in a motor accident at Eyenkorin, Asa Local Government Area of the state, while returning from a trip to Lagos.
It was gathered by this medium that the deceased who recently wrote his final examination was said to have travelled to Lagos after the defence of his project.
According to an eye witness Babatunde was the only passenger that died in the accident while making a return trip from Lagos.
Speaking with this medium yesterday, a friend of the deceased identified as Bukky said, “He travelled last Thursday to attend the naming ceremony of his elder sister. So, on Monday, he joined a bus to Ilorin but on getting to Eyenkorin, the bus crashed and it was only Babatunde that died in the accident.”
Meanwhile, the 22-year-old was yesterday buried amidst tears at the Muslim Cemetery, Osere area of Ilorin.
Speaking on the unfortunate incident, yesterday, the Head of Mass Communication Department, Mr Obafemi Oderinde, who supervised the project of the deceased, said, “I only heard about his (Babatunde) passing this afternoon; I was told he sustained severe head injury in a car accident at Eyenkorin very close to the Airport.
“I was his project supervisor and he appeared for defence last week. I learnt he travelled to Lagos after that but I wouldn’t know why he was returning to Ilorin. Unfortunately, we lost him.
“He has been buried this evening at the Muslim Cemetery, Osere area of Ilorin. I am aware the school management waded in and the Deputy Director of Students Services and others are on their way to the cemetery. I didn’t know about that, otherwise I would have joined them but the school was represented there.
“Our hearts are with his family. We don’t wish for a reoccurrence in our department and the school entirely.”
Similarly, a lecturer in the department, Mr Ibrahim Fatai described the death of Babatunde as a huge loss to Mass Communication department.
He said, “To lose a student who just defended his project is a development we are yet to come to terms with. It is one death too many. We lost about three students in the last 12 months. We pray God grant his soul eternal rest and his family and loved ones, the fortitude to bear the painful loss.”
