A devastating accident on Monday morning has claimed the lives of at least five students of the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT), sending shockwaves through the university community and the entire city of Port Harcourt.
According to eyewitness accounts, the students were aboard a university shuttle bus traveling along the Eliozu–Rumuokoro Road when the vehicle rammed into a stationary trailer parked by the roadside.
The crash occurred around 7:45 a.m. as students were heading to campus for early morning lectures.
Emergency responders and local security agencies rushed to the scene, but five students were confirmed dead on the spot, while several others sustained varying degrees of injuries.
The injured were quickly transported to nearby hospitals, where they are currently receiving treatment.
UNIPORT authorities have expressed deep sorrow over the incident. In a brief statement, the university’s Public Relations Officer described the tragedy as “an unspeakable loss to the institution and the families involved,” assuring that investigations are underway to determine the cause of the accident and assess the condition of the remaining students.
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The Rivers State Police Command has also launched a formal investigation, with preliminary findings suggesting that the trailer had been abandoned without proper warning signs, posing a significant hazard to road users.
This tragic event has sparked widespread outrage on social media, with many Nigerians calling on authorities to enforce stricter regulations on parked vehicles and road safety standards.
Meanwhile, a candlelight vigil is being planned by UNIPORT students to honor their fallen colleagues.
As the community mourns, many are left asking how such a tragedy could have been avoided — and what must now be done to ensure the roads around educational institutions are safe for all.