LAUTECH Nursing Tragedy: Further Details Emerge as Two Bodies Are Buried Amid Tears
Ogbomoso, Nigeria – 24 February 2026
By Fellow Nurses Africa
In the wake of the devastating road traffic accident that claimed the lives of six final-year nursing students from Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) Open and Distance Learning (ODL) Bachelor of Nursing Science programme, sorrow continues to deepen within our nursing family.
As earlier reported on 23 February, the six dedicated women in their 500 level—lost their lives on Sunday 22 February while journeying to the Ogbomoso campus for their semester examinations. The crash occurred along the Suleja–Abuja Expressway, cutting short promising careers and futures.
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Updated developments from the ground
A joint delegation of LAUTECH ODL authorities and student representatives from the set travelled to Ilorin to handle essential administrative matters at the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) office. They then proceeded to the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH) mortuary, where the bodies were solemnly identified:
- Nana Firdausi Shehu Utene
- Elizabeth Owoicho
- Blessing Kevwe
- Maimunah Abdulraheem Hamza
- Jamila Idris Sarkinbaka
- Victoria Aroke Ozavize
With heavy hearts, the families of Jamila Idris Sarkinbaka and Maimunah Abdulraheem Hamza were present to receive their loved ones. In keeping with Islamic tradition and in the midst of profound grief, the burials were carried out promptly and with dignity.
The four remaining bodies have now been transferred to the LAUTECH Teaching Hospital mortuary in Ogbomoso. All grieving families have arrived in Ogbomoso and are being supported as they prepare for final farewells. Releases are anticipated in the coming hours or days, once formalities are complete and families feel ready.
These remarkable women were more than students—they were practising nurses who rose before dawn for hospital shifts, cared for patients with compassion, nurtured their own families, and still pursued excellence in their studies. Their journeys embodied the resilience and quiet strength so many nurses in Nigeria know all too well.
A moment for reflection and renewed commitment
This tragedy has once again laid bare the risks our colleagues face when long distances separate them from essential academic requirements. Conversations across nursing forums, WhatsApp groups, and social media echo the same questions: How can we better protect our own? What changes to transport support, exam scheduling, or ODL policies could prevent such heartbreak in the future?
At Fellow Nurses Africa, we stand in solidarity with every nurse, midwife, student, and family touched by this loss. We honour the memory of these six beautiful souls by continuing to advocate for safer roads, more humane academic arrangements for working professionals, and unwavering support for one another in times of sorrow.
To the families: Your pain is felt across borders and time zones. We hold you close in our thoughts and prayers.
To our nursing community: Let us carry their light forward—through kindness, advocacy, and the daily care we give.
May Allah grant them Jannatul Firdaus and bestow sabr and solace upon all who mourn.
May their gentle souls rest in perfect peace.
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Fellow Nurses Africa remains committed to bringing you verified updates as they unfold.
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Kehinde Oluwatosin is one of the many editors here at Fellow Nurses Africa and fellownurses.com.
He is a registered nurse with a Master of Science degree in healthcare leadership from the University of Hull, United Kingdom. Kehinde is passionate about advancing the nursing profession across Africa. As Co-Founder of Fellow Nurses Africa, he plays a key role in shaping editorial direction, ensuring our content educates, informs, and empowers nurses continent-wide.
With expertise in leadership, patient flow, and healthcare operations, Kehinde brings valuable insights to nursing news, career development, and policy discussions. He is committed to amplifying the voice of African nurses and driving positive change in the profession.
