A recent graduate of Auchi Polytechnic, Edo State, Otanor Ruth Bodom, is battling for her life after a tragic accident involving a Dangote truck left her with a leg amputation — and the possible loss of the second.
Bodom, who had just earned a Higher National Diploma (HND) in Marketing, was struck shortly after leaving campus. According to her family, the truck driver — reportedly underage and unlicensed — attempted to flee but was apprehended by commercial motorcycle riders.
“She had only just finished her final exams. Now she’s in a hospital, fighting to survive because someone thought it was okay to hand a trailer to a child,” said her sister, Josephina Otabor. She questioned the decision by the Dangote Group to allow an unlicensed driver behind the wheel of a heavy-duty vehicle, describing it as "a reckless cost-cutting measure."
The initial response to the incident saw Bodom rushed to Hadiza Hospital in Jetu, then transferred to Irua Teaching Hospital, where she remains in critical condition. The motorcycle rider carrying her at the time of the accident is also reported to be severely injured.
Eyewitnesses say the incident occurred within the school’s vicinity. The intercepted truck was later taken to the police station in Ibie, Auchi. However, the victim's family has accused the police of providing no clear updates regarding the driver’s status or the investigation's progress.
“The truck is parked at the police station, but we’ve heard nothing about the driver or the case since then,” a family member said, raising concerns about a possible cover-up.
In response, Edo State Police Command spokesperson, SP Yamu Moses Joel, denied the allegations, stating that the driver had been charged in court and pleaded guilty to three of the four charges against him. The case, he confirmed, has been adjourned to August 21.
Efforts to reach Dangote Group spokesperson, Tony Chiejina, for comment were unsuccessful. Despite acknowledging a text inquiry, he had not responded by the time of publication.
As Bodom remains hospitalized with her future uncertain, her family continues to call for justice — not just for their daughter, but to ensure accountability in what they say is a system that failed her.
Post a Comment