Six final-year nursing students from Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) lost their lives in a devastating road accident on February 22, 2026, while traveling to sit for their semester examinations.
The victims—all women in the 500-level Open and Distance Learning (ODL) Bachelor of Nursing Science programme—died when their vehicle crashed along the Ilorin-Ogbomoso highway in Kwara State.
Reports indicate that one of the students was heavily pregnant, amplifying the grief surrounding the incident.
These dedicated students balanced demanding hospital shifts as working nurses with family responsibilities and rigorous academic demands.
They journeyed long distances—some from areas like Suleja or Abuja—to reach LAUTECH’s main campus in Ogbomoso, Oyo State, for what promised to be the final stretch of their training.
LAUTECH’s management swiftly confirmed the tragedy and expressed profound sorrow.
University officials extended heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families, colleagues, and friends.
They urged the entire community to rally in prayer and support during this difficult time.
Nursing associations across Nigeria quickly voiced their anguish.
The Nigerian Nurses Forum, Elegant Nurses Forum, and Nigerian Universities Nursing Students’ Association (NUNSA) issued statements mourning the loss of promising professionals.
They described the deaths as a heartbreaking blow to the healthcare sector, where Nigeria already faces shortages of qualified nurses.
The accident once again spotlights persistent dangers on Nigeria’s major highways.
The Ilorin-Ogbomoso route has claimed numerous lives in recent years, prompting renewed calls for urgent improvements in road infrastructure, stricter enforcement of safety regulations, and better support for distance-learning students who must travel frequently for mandatory sessions.
As families prepare to bury their loved ones and the university grapples with the void left behind, the nation reflects on the human cost of such preventable tragedies.
The six students—on the cusp of graduation and service—leave behind legacies of resilience, dedication, and unfulfilled potential that will linger in the hearts of many.
