Writing by Sediq Mutari....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Tragedy struck at Nnamdi Azikiwe University when Ifunanya Miracle, a recent graduate of the Department of Quantity Surveying, lost her life in a harrowing incident on the university premises in Awka, Anambra State.

The distressing event unfolded on Sunday, June 9, 2024, when Ifunanya, also known as Bliss, and her friend Peace, a student of the Department of Pure and Industrial Chemistry, were assaulted while traveling in a tricycle.

According to reports, an unidentified passenger attempted to rob them, prompting both students to leap from the moving vehicle in an attempt to escape.

Sadly, Ifunanya sustained severe injuries after hitting her head on the ground during the escape attempt, leading to her untimely death.

Peace sustained various injuries and was immediately rushed to Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital for treatment.

Ifunanya was well-known among her peers for her entrepreneurial spirit, operating a Point-of-Sale business on campus throughout her academic journey.

A student, who spoke anonymously with Punch, shared, “Miracle had just graduated from the university and operated a Point-of-Sale business on campus. The incident occurred around 7 pm on June 9, 2024. She usually kept her business items under the staircase in our compound, and they are still there. She put them back there in the evening. Suddenly, we heard that she had passed away.”

“We were shocked; she had left her business items under the staircase of our compound on Monday. According to what we gathered, she was in a moving tricycle with her friend when another passenger demanded their phones.”

“Miracle jumped out of the tricycle to escape and hit her head on the road. By the time she was taken to the hospital, she had passed away. Her friend, who also jumped out of the tricycle, sustained injuries and is still in the hospital.”

Another student mentioned that the man who demanded their belongings later claimed it was a prank and reportedly turned himself in to the police.

“We heard that the guy reported himself at the police station and said it was a prank. How can someone prank on a moving tricycle? We haven’t heard anything since the incident. This lady (Miracle) lost her life due to the recklessness of people who claim to be pranksters.”

“It’s possible he intended to rob them, and when he saw the consequences of his actions, he changed his story to prank. The university has not addressed the issue. The fact that the school has not spoken about it is worrisome. The girl just graduated.”

“The deceased was Ifunanya Miracle, also known as Bliss, a student in the Department of Quantity Surveying. Her friend’s name is Peace, from the Department of Pure and Industrial Chemistry. She was hospitalized after the incident.”

Dr. Emmanuel Ojukwu, the school spokesperson, confirmed the incident and stated that the final-year student responsible for the prank would face disciplinary action after Miracle’s burial.

“The university is aware of the incident. It was not a robbery but a costly prank. The students were asked to hand over their phones, but they didn’t know it was a prank. They jumped out, one died, and one survived.”

“The families of the victims and the final-year student who played the prank met with us, and it was confirmed to be a prank. The families have reached an agreement, and we want the burial process to be completed before disciplinary action is taken against the student who played the prank.”

“It’s a regrettable incident; the university regrets it, the student who played the prank regrets it, and the family of the student involved will bear the funeral expenses of the deceased victim and the hospital bills of the other student. We take this opportunity to caution students against dangerous pranks that lead to fatalities; the perpetrator will face consequences.”