A tragic incident has thrown residents of Ilara-Mokin, in Ifedore Local Government Area of Ondo State, into mourning after a woman, identified as Oluwasola Victoria Adebayo, slumped and died while waiting for her child sitting for the ongoing Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), organised by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).
The deceased was said to have accompanied her daughter to the examination centre on Monday morning, a common practice among concerned parents during the nationwide entrance examination.
Eyewitnesses at Ilara-Mokin Junction recounted that the woman suddenly complained of weakness before collapsing. Efforts by sympathisers and passersby to revive her reportedly failed.
“She said she wasn’t feeling fine and the next thing we saw was that she slumped. People gathered and tried to help, but she didn’t respond,” a witness said.
Tragically, her child remained inside the examination hall at the time of the incident, unaware that her mother had passed away outside the premises.
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A resident who identified the deceased as “Mommy Ayo” said the late woman had earlier spoken about escorting her daughter for the crucial examination.
“She told some of us in the morning that she was taking her daughter for UTME. Nobody expected this kind of sad outcome,” the resident said.
The shocking development attracted a crowd of residents and commuters, many expressing disbelief over the sudden death, as the exact cause could not be immediately ascertained.
Confirming the incident, the Ondo State Police Command, said it had reached out to the family and handled necessary procedures concerning the remains.
“The Command notes with deep concern a sad incident involving the sudden death of a woman in Ilara Mokin,” the police said in a statement.
It added, “The family of the deceased has since been contacted and upon thorough checks, the remains have been released to Mr. Apapa Olamilekan, who identified himself as her son and an officer of the Nigeria Legion in Akure.
“The Command commiserates with the family of the deceased and urges the public to remain calm.”
The incident has further raised concerns about health emergencies in public places, especially during high-pressure national exercises like the UTME, where parents often wait long hours for their children.
