Four Egbolo children died and several others were injured when a truck taking them to school plunged into a river, prompting residents to protest long-standing government neglect and the absence of a local primary school.
At least four schoolchildren from Egbolo community in Igalamela-Odolu Local Government Area of Kogi State lost their lives on Monday after a truck transporting them to school veered off the road and fell into a river. Several other pupils were left with varying injuries.
The crash occurred at about 8:30 a.m. while the children were on their way to Ofuloko, the closest community with a functional primary school.
Witnesses said the truck—originally transporting building materials—regularly conveyed pupils who had no other means of getting to school. According to residents, the vehicle failed to climb a hill after crossing a bridge, rolled backward, and plunged into the river below.
Distressed villagers rushed to the scene, pulling trapped children from underneath the overturned truck. Shortly after, they blocked the road in protest, accusing the government of abandoning Egbolo and forcing children to travel dangerous routes for basic education.
A bereaved father who lost his son said the tragedy was a direct result of years of neglect. He urged authorities to intervene immediately to prevent more deaths.
Community youth leader Usman Idrisu confirmed the casualty figures, lamenting that despite Egbolo’s sizeable population, the area has no primary school. He said children are compelled to trek long distances daily just to access basic education in Ofuloko.
“We are deeply pained by the loss of four of our children, who died simply because they were trying to get an education,” he said.
Idrisu appealed to Governor Ahmed Ododo to establish a primary school in Egbolo so that children no longer have to travel unsafe routes to learn.
READ ALSO: Police Rescue Two Abducted School Children In Nasarawa
SOURCES: ALLSCHOOL, DAILY POST
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