Rivers varsity bans night driving on campus after student death
June 26, 2026 2:50 pm
The management of Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, has banned undergraduate students from driving personal vehicles on campus between 4 p.m. and 7 a.m. following the death of a 21-year-old student allegedly knocked down by a speeding vehicle.
The Acting Registrar, Dr Idanyingi Daminabo, announced the measure on Friday while addressing journalists in Port Harcourt.
Daminabo said the decision followed the death of Eno Udoson, who was allegedly struck by a vehicle driven by an undergraduate on the campus on Tuesday.
He expressed condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of the deceased.
According to him, preliminary findings showed the accident involved two students, Darlington Onuaku of the Department of Development and Communication Studies and Obinna Ikechi of the Department of Computer Science.
“Both students have been arrested and handed over to the police for further investigation and possible prosecution,” he said.
The registrar said the university had previously introduced speed limits, speed bumps and sanctions to regulate vehicular movement but adopted additional safety measures after an emergency management meeting on Wednesday.
“Under the new directives, undergraduate students are prohibited from driving personal vehicles into campus between 4 p.m. and 7 a.m.,” he said.
He added that students bringing vehicles to the university must park them at the designated car park near the main gate and use the institution’s authorised shuttle services for movement within the campus.
Daminabo also said postgraduate and Centre for Continuing Education students would only be allowed to drive personal vehicles on campus upon presentation of valid university identity cards.
“Any student found engaging in reckless driving will face suspension, disciplinary proceedings and impoundment of the vehicle involved,” he warned.
He further announced that visiting hours to student hostels would now end at 6 p.m. daily, adding that the approved speed limit remains 30 kilometres per hour on major roads and 20 kilometres per hour in residential areas.
He said the new measures were aimed at preventing a recurrence and ensuring the safety of students, staff and visitors.
Meanwhile, the Rivers State Police Command confirmed the arrest of two suspects in connection with the student’s death.
The command’s spokesperson, ASP Blessing Agabe, said the suspects were linked to the fatal accident, which occurred along Road A within the university campus.
According to her, the victim’s body has been deposited in a mortuary while investigations continue.
“Investigations are ongoing, and anyone found culpable will face the full weight of the law,” she said.
Also reacting, a relative of the deceased and lecturer at the university, Mr Moore Mike-Ogburia, alleged that Udoson was returning to the staff quarters when two drivers, who were allegedly racing, collided and fatally struck her.
He called for the prosecution of those responsible, describing the drivers as reckless and arguing that stricter enforcement of traffic regulations could have prevented the tragedy.
“The death of Eno could have been avoided if, in previous cases, offending vehicles had been impounded and the drivers arrested and prosecuted.
“Similar accidents occur almost every semester,” he said.
He urged the university authorities and relevant agencies to strengthen road safety measures to prevent future occurrences.
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