Bodom, who only last week earned a Higher National Diploma (HND) in Marketing, was struck by the truck shortly after leaving the school premises.
A tragic accident involving a Dangote truck on Wednesday has left a fresh graduate of the Auchi Polytechnic, Edo State, Otanor Ruth Bodom, fighting for her life after one of her legs was amputated.
Nigerian Female Graduate Loses Leg In Dangote Truck Accident As Family Accuses Police Of Cover Up, Seeks Justice
Doctors say her other leg may also require amputation.
Bodom, who only last week earned a Higher National Diploma (HND) in Marketing, was struck by the truck shortly after leaving the school premises.
According to her sister, Josephina Otabor, the driver — described by witnesses as underage and without a valid licence —attempted to flee the scene but was chased down and stopped by commercial motorcycle riders.
“Police preliminary investigations show that the driver was not licensed to drive. How could they hand such a huge truck to a small boy? Why would Dangote, of all people, employ an unlicensed driver? This is exploitation, just to save costs,” Josephina lamented.
The victim was first rushed to Hadiza Hospital in Jetu before being transferred to Irua Teaching Hospital, Edo, where she remains in critical condition.
The motorcycle rider carrying her at the time of the accident is also said to be in a critical state.
Eyewitnesses said the accident happened within the school environment. After the truck was intercepted, it was taken to the police station at Ibie in Auchi.
However, Bodom’s family has accused the police of a cover-up, claiming there has been no update on the driver’s arrest or the progress of the investigation.
“Besides parking the truck in front of the police station, there is no information about the driver, and the police are not telling us anything,” a relative alleged.
However, when contacted, Edo State Police Command spokesperson, SP Yamu Moses Joel, denied any cover-up.
He told SaharaReporters that the driver had already been charged to court, where he pleaded guilty to three of the four-count charge against him.
The matter, Joel said, was adjourned to August 21.
Efforts to get comments from the Dangote Group spokesperson, Tony Chiejina, were unsuccessful.
He did not answer his calls.
Despite requesting that questions be sent via text message, he had not responded as of press time.
