Residents of Enerhen in Uvwie Local Government Area of Delta State have called for immediate safety measures after a primary school pupil was killed along MCC Road on Monday. The tragic incident happened close to an ongoing drainage construction site reportedly being handled by Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, prompting anger among community members who claim repeated safety lapses at the site have led to several accidents.
According to witnesses, the young girl was returning home from school with her siblings when they tried to cross the busy road near the construction area. A heavy-duty truck connected to the project had stopped to allow the children to cross safely. However, the pupil reportedly noticed that her school bag had fallen on the road and ran back to retrieve it.
Thinking that all the children had already crossed, the driver allegedly moved the truck and unknowingly ran over the girl. A resident said the driver had initially waited for the children but likely assumed the road was clear before driving off. The child died instantly.
The incident has triggered outrage in the community, with residents blaming the contractors for not putting proper safety measures in place around the construction zone, especially in an area commonly used by schoolchildren and pedestrians.
Community members also pointed to previous accidents connected to the drainage project. They recalled that a child had earlier died after falling into the deep drainage channel under construction, while another child was once rescued after a similar fall. According to residents, the latest tragedy underscores the urgent need for improved safety around the site.
The body of the deceased pupil has been taken to a mortuary as the community mourns and demands accountability. Residents also alleged that work at the construction site resumed three days after the incident without any official visit or public statement from the company.
Efforts to get comments from Julius Berger Nigeria Plc and the Delta State Police Command were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report. Meanwhile, residents are urging authorities to investigate the incident and ensure contractors enforce stricter safety measures at construction sites.
