A cloud of despair and grief has enveloped Abia State Polytechnic, Aba, following the untimely death of a brilliant fresh graduate of the tertiary institution.

The deceased, one Ezekiel Mary Ogechi, met her end on Tuesday in the most unfortunate and tragic circumstance after she was crushed to death by a tanker.

The incident happened in front of the institution just after the deceased, who studied accounting at the Polytechnic, completed her academic clearance that would see her get mobilised for the mandatory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme.

The joyous Ogechi, who was already relishing the prospect of serving her fatherland before the grim reaper struck, was said to be a straight-A student as she graduated with distinction in accounting and was also a source of inspiration for a her contemporaries.

It was learnt that she already received a scholarship from an organization to do a post-graduate course.

Narrating what transpired, a source who was privy to the incident disclosed that the deceased was knocked down by a tricycle before she was subsequently crushed to death by a fast moving heavy-duty truck.

“Unfortunately, she was hit by a tricycle while trying to cross to the other side of the road; before she could get up, she was then crushed by a fast moving truck,” the source said.

The incident has created apprehension and uncertainty in the school as other enraged students of the Polytechnic mobilised for a protest.

The tension was douse and frayed nerves were calmed after the students’ union stepped in to placate the seething students.

“The management of the Abia State Polytechnic and the Students Union Government of the institution saved the day as the angry students were begged to calm down,” Daily Post quoted the source to have said.

The Polytechnic has not yet issued a statement about the development as of the time of filing this report.

The spokesperson of the Abia State Police Command, ASP Maureen Chinaka, has also not reacted to tragic incident.