Following the tragic death of seven students of the Federal University Lokoja (FUL), Kogi State, and a bus driver in a ghastly road accident involving a truck and a school shuttle bus on Tuesday, students of the university have staged a massive protest, blockading every entrances and exits in the school
According to SaharaReporters, the protesting students began their public demonstration on Tuesday and continued on Wednesday morning to demand immediate actions from relevant authorities to avert future fatal accidents within the school environment.
The tragic accident, which occurred around 2:30pm saw an articulated truck carrying wood and jerrycans of palm oil lose control and ram into a shuttle bus filled with students.
According to eyewitnesses, the bus was about to convey students to school when the speeding truck crushed it completely.
The report stated that about seven students died instantly after the accident.
A student told journalists, “The driver of the truck lost control and rammed into the school shuttle bus, which was already filled with students and set to leave. The impact was devastating,”
Following the accident, enraged students took to the streets in protest, demanding that heavy-duty trucks be restricted from operating during the daytime to prevent further tragedies.
Protesters gathered at the university gate, calling for urgent government intervention to improve road safety around the institution.
Meanwhile, emergency responders, including officers of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), rushed to the scene to rescue trapped victims.
The Kogi State Sector Commander of the FRSC, Samuel Oyedeji, who led the rescue operation, stated that while the exact number of casualties could not yet be confirmed, several bodies had been deposited at the morgue for identification, while injured victims were taken to the Federal Teaching Hospital, Lokoja, and the Kogi State Specialist Hospital for treatment.
The student protest, which is still ongoing, has heightened calls for lasting measures to curb recurring accidents along major roads in the state.
Residents and students alike are urging authorities to enforce stricter traffic regulations to prevent further loss of lives.
Another student said: “On Tuesday, The protest was staged but it was at the school gate demanding lasting measures to avert the recurrence of accidents on the road. Kogi State deputy governor was at the school entrance today to sympathise with the aggrieved students and the university community.”
“The students are still out this morning (on Wednesday) to continue the protest,” the student added.
