SAD! Student Dies in a Fatal Accident During IMT Final Year Celebrations, Others Badly Injured ....IMT Suspends Exams Indefinitely

 

A day of celebration turned tragic at the Institute of Management and Technology (IMT) Enugu, as a female student from Peaceland College lost her life in a car accident during the final year examination celebrations on Monday.

According to eyewitness reports, a graduating student, who was allegedly driving recklessly in a celebratory mood, lost control of the vehicle. The car, suspected to have suffered a brake failure, veered into a crowd of students, striking several bystanders.

In a distressing video making rounds on social media platforms, particularly WhatsApp, students can be seen working together to lift the vehicle in a desperate attempt to retrieve the lifeless body of the victim, who had been trapped underneath.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Acting Rector of IMT, Emeka Ejim, confirmed that the deceased was not an IMT student but a student of Peaceland College, who was on the IMT campus to participate in a "sign-out" ceremony for one of the injured students. He also revealed that two students from IMT's Public Administration Department were among the injured, and they are currently receiving medical treatment at Posh Hospital, New Haven, Enugu.

One of the injured students, an HND II Public Administration student, is scheduled for transfer to the Orthopaedic Hospital, Enugu, after X-ray scans indicated a serious leg fracture.

In response to the tragic incident, Mr. Ejim announced the indefinite suspension of all final year examinations. He emphasized that the institution had repeatedly warned students against reckless and unruly celebrations, which could lead to unfortunate incidents like this. "Despite our continuous warnings, some students still engaged in dangerous celebrations, and this is the sad result," Mr. Ejim lamented.

An emergency meeting of the Academic Board and IMT's management has been scheduled for Wednesday, October 2, 2024, to deliberate further on the accident and assess possible measures to prevent a recurrence.

Speaking further on the institution’s stance, IMT’s spokesperson, Mark Eze, confirmed the suspension of the exams, stating that this action is necessary to allow for a thorough investigation into the tragic event. He urged students to act responsibly during this difficult time.

While the identity of the deceased student is yet to be officially released, the injured students are reportedly in stable condition. The management of Posh Hospital has confirmed that immediate care was administered to the victims, with specialists on standby for the HND student’s transfer to the Orthopaedic Hospital for further evaluation and surgery.

The tragedy has reignited discussions about student safety during celebratory periods on campuses. IMT had earlier issued several advisories urging students to avoid reckless behavior, especially during the final year "sign-out" festivities, which typically involve large gatherings and often lead to excessive jubilation.

As the institution begins its inquiry, there are growing calls for stricter enforcement of regulations during events and celebrations on campus to ensure such incidents do not happen again.

The student community, already in mourning, is expected to hold a candlelight procession in honor of the deceased, once the investigation and proceedings are concluded.

For now, the school is focused on supporting the affected students and their families while ensuring that the investigation into this tragic event is thorough and comprehensive.