A road accident that killed seven students and a bus driver has sparked a large-scale protest by students at Federal University Lokoja (FUL), in Kogi State.
On Monday, February 18, at approximately 2:30 PM, an articulated truck transporting wood and palm oil jerrycans lost control and collided with a student-filled school shuttle bus. Witnesses reported that the impact was devastating and that all eight victims died instantly.
In response, angry students blocked the roads leading to the university and demanded that the government take immediate action to improve road safety. They demonstrated in the streets on Tuesday and continued into Wednesday morning.
They demanded, in particular, that heavy-duty trucks not be allowed to operate during the day in order to stop such tragedies.
Officers from the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) were among the emergency personnel sent to the scene to free the stranded individuals. The precise number of casualties is still being determined, but according to Kogi State FRSC Sector Commander Samuel Oyedeji, several bodies have been taken to the mortuary, and the injured have been hurried to Kogi State Specialist Hospital and the Federal Teaching Hospital in Lokoja for treatment.
Since tensions are still high, the Deputy Governor of Kogi State came to the university entrance to express sympathy to the university community and the bereaved students. Students have, however, promised to keep protesting until significant steps are taken to stop more mishaps.
CREDIT: ALLSCHOOL, Allschoolabs
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