Tragedy struck on Friday, June 27, when a young entrepreneur and graduate of Taraba State University, Cynthia Jonathan, lost her life after a truck rammed into her shop at the Mile 6 Market in Jalingo.
According to eyewitnesses, the fatal incident occurred when a truck transporting shaft sand suffered a tyre burst while in motion. The driver, unable to regain control, veered off the road and into the busy market area, where it crashed into Cynthia’s point-of-sale (POS) shop.
The impact was devastating, cutting short the life of the promising graduate who had recently ventured into small-scale business operations in her community.
The incident has sent shockwaves through the university community and among residents of Jalingo, as tributes continue to pour in for the late Cynthia, remembered as industrious, cheerful, and determined.
Local authorities have since launched an investigation into the accident. Meanwhile, community leaders and residents are calling for stricter vehicle inspection regulations and improved safety measures around public markets to prevent such tragedies in the future.