In a heartbreaking incident in Akure, Ondo State, a vehicle reportedly part of the convoy of Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, struck and killed a seven-year-old girl named Saratu Lawal on Thursday, April 17, 2025. The accident occurred as the First Lady traveled from the airport to an event venue in the state capital, according to information first reported by SaharaReporters.
Senator Tinubu was in Akure to launch the South-West phase of the Renewed Hope Initiative, a program aimed at enhancing the welfare of women and girls nationwide. She was also set to distribute 10,000 professional kits, including Crocs and scrubs, to nurses and midwives in the region. However, the visit took a tragic turn when a light-colored Toyota Hilux in her convoy allegedly hit Saratu near Oba Ile, close to the Oba Ile Central Mosque.
Saratu, a pupil at Islamiyar Arabic School in Shasha, was fatally injured in the collision. Despite being rushed to a primary healthcare facility in Oba Ile, efforts to save her life were unsuccessful. Her father, Malam Lawali, a trader at the Oba Ile market, expressed his grief, stating he had “surrendered everything to God.” The girl’s body was released to her family for burial in accordance with Islamic traditions.
Local authorities, including the Ondo State Police Command, have not yet issued an official statement. Attempts to reach DSP Ayanlade Olushola, the police spokesperson, were unsuccessful at the time of this report.
This tragic event has cast a shadow over the First Lady’s visit, raising questions about convoy safety and accountability. Further details are awaited as the community mourns the loss of young Saratu.
Source: This report draws on initial findings published by SaharaReporters.
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