LOKOJA, Nigeria (FN) — A university lecturer was killed Wednesday in a traffic accident involving a heavy-duty truck in Lokoja, the capital of Nigeria’s Kogi State, prompting widespread grief and renewed calls for stricter road safety measures — especially concerning trucks linked to Dangote Group.
Mrs. Kemi Emmanuel, a lecturer in the Department of Theatre Arts at Federal University, Lokoja, died after falling from a commercial motorcycle and being struck by a speeding trailer along the Crusher highway in the Felele area.
Kogi State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Tenimu Etuku, confirmed the incident Thursday, describing it as “very sad and unfortunate.” Rescue teams rushed Emmanuel to the Kogi State Specialist Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
The university expressed deep sorrow over Emmanuel’s death, calling her “a dedicated educator and cherished member of the academic community.” Vice Chancellor Prof. Olayemi Akinwumi said the institution would support her family and honor her legacy.
Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo offered condolences and called the incident “a tragic reminder of the urgent need for traffic reform.” He pledged to intensify enforcement of road safety regulations, particularly concerning trailer movement through urban areas.
Emmanuel’s husband, Samuel Emmanuel, said the family was devastated. “She was a loving wife, a brilliant scholar, and a source of strength to all of us,” he said.
Students of Federal University Lokoja held a candlelight vigil Thursday evening in her memory. “She was more than a lecturer — she was a mentor and a mother figure,” said final-year student Grace Ojo. Others urged the government to restrict trailer movement during daytime hours and improve road safety enforcement.
The incident has intensified public concern over the frequency of fatal accidents involving heavy-duty trucks, many of which have been linked to Dangote Group’s logistics operations. In May, 19 people — including five children — died in a crash on the Obajana–Lokoja road involving a cement truck reportedly affiliated with the company. In October 2020, a Dangote truck lost control in Akungba Akoko, Ondo State, killing at least eight people, including students of Adekunle Ajasin University. In August 2021, another Dangote truck crushed a woman to death near Auchi Polytechnic in Edo State.
While Dangote Group has denied direct ownership of some of the trucks involved, citing third-party contractors and misidentification, the recurring nature of these accidents has sparked outrage and demands for accountability.
Civil society groups and residents are calling for strategic reforms, including designated trailer routes, time restrictions, and improved driver regulation. Emmanuel’s death has become a rallying point for advocates demanding safer roads and greater corporate responsibility.
