SUNTV GLOBAL REPORT
The nursing community across Nigeria has been thrown into deep mourning following the tragic death of six final-year students of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) who lost their lives in a fatal road accident along the Suleja‑Abuja Expressway.
The victims, all 500-level nursing students in the institution’s Open and Distance Learning Bachelor of Nursing Science programme, reportedly died on February 22, 2026, while travelling to resume academic activities and sit for their final examinations in Ogbomoso.
In an official statement issued on Tuesday, the Elegant Nurses Forum expressed profound grief over the tragedy, describing it as a devastating blow to the nursing profession and the academic community.
The statement, signed by the forum’s Secretary, Olabisi Sunday James, said members were “deeply saddened” by the sudden loss of the students, noting that they were on their way to school for semester examinations when the accident occurred.
According to the forum, the students were expected to resume face-to-face academic facilitation on Monday, February 23, before the fatal crash cut short their journeys and aspirations.
The group extended heartfelt condolences to the families, friends, and colleagues of the deceased, stating that the incident has cast a heavy shadow over the entire LAUTECH community and beyond.
“We mourn this devastating loss and pray for the souls of the departed to rest in eternal peace. Our thoughts are with their families and the university community during this painful time,” the statement read.
The forum also acknowledged the intense grief being faced by loved ones of the victims and pledged solidarity with them.
In addition, it commended emergency responders and medical personnel who rushed to the accident scene, while urging motorists and road users nationwide to prioritise safety and exercise caution on highways.
SUNTV Global gathered that the deceased students were practicing nurses who had been combining demanding hospital duties with their academic pursuits.
Tragically, one of the victims was reportedly heavily pregnant at the time of the crash, a detail that has further deepened public sorrow and outrage over the incident.
The accident has continued to draw nationwide reactions, with professional bodies, colleagues, and members of the public paying tribute to the students whose lives were cut short just as they were about to complete their academic journey and advance their careers in healthcare.
Authorities are yet to release a full report on the cause of the crash as investigations continue.
