A tragic accident in Kogi State has claimed the lives of four pupils from Egbolo community after the truck transporting them to school plunged into a river on Monday morning. Several other children sustained varying degrees of injuries.
The incident occurred around 8:00am while the pupils were being ferried to Ofuloko Primary School in a truck that was also carrying building materials. According to Egbolo youth leader, Usman Idrisu, the truck failed to climb a hill after crossing a bridge, rolled backward, and toppled into the river.
Idrisu described the tragedy as a “black Monday” for the community and revealed that the lack of a primary school in Egbolo forces children to trek long distances daily to access basic education in Ofuloko.
“The truck could not climb the hill after it crossed the bridge and rolled backward before plunging into the river,” he said.
“We are seriously grieved in Egbolo community for the death of four of our children who died in the course of seeking education. Many who sustained injuries have been rushed to a hospital in Idah town. This incident could have been averted if only there is a primary school in our community.”
He appealed to Kogi State Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo to establish a primary school in Egbolo to prevent further tragedies.
The community is said to be deeply shaken, with residents mourning the loss of the pupils and expressing fear that without accessible schooling, similar incidents may recur.
Emergency responders and local authorities have yet to release an official casualty update, but investigations into the crash are ongoing.
