Tragedy struck in Ilara-Mokin community, Ifedore Local Government Area of Ondo State, on Monday, as a woman, Oluwasola Adebayo, reportedly slumped and died while accompanying her daughter to a Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) examination centre.
PrimeTimes Nigeria reports that the incident occurred during the ongoing Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), leaving residents and sympathisers in shock.
It was gathered that the deceased had escorted her daughter to the examination venue in the agrarian community when she suddenly developed health complications.
According to The Nation, an eyewitness, identified simply as Abiola, said the woman began to feel weak moments after arriving at the centre.
“She started feeling weak shortly after getting to the centre before she suddenly collapsed,” the eyewitness noted.
He added that frantic efforts by those present to revive her proved abortive, as she was confirmed dead at the scene.
Sources disclosed that the deceased had earlier informed acquaintances of her plan to accompany her daughter to the examination centre.
At the time of the incident, however, her daughter—whose identity had yet to be disclosed—was inside the examination hall writing the UTME and remained unaware of the development outside.
The situation reportedly drew a large crowd of sympathisers and passersby, many of whom expressed grief over the sudden loss.
Confirming the incident, the spokesperson for the Ondo State Police Command, Jimoh Abayomi, said the command had received the report and taken necessary action.
Abayomi noted that the police were deeply concerned about the development.
“The Command noted with deep concern the sad incident involving the sudden death of the woman accompanying her daughter to the examination centre in Ilara Mokin,” he said.
The police spokesperson added that the deceased’s family had been contacted and appropriate steps taken regarding her remains.
“The family of the deceased has since been contacted and upon thorough checks, the remains have been released to one Mr Apapa Olamilekan, who identified himself as her son and an officer of the Nigeria Legion, Akure.
“The Command commiserates with the family of the deceased and urges the public to remain calm,” he added.
The tragic incident has thrown the quiet Ilara-Mokin community into mourning, with residents still grappling with the shock of a life lost so suddenly in the midst of what was meant to be a routine academic exercise.