Muyiwa Adejobi |
Tragedy struck at the Federal College of
Education (FCE), Osiele Abeokuta, Ogun state, as six students of the
College were crushed to death.
Eyewitness said the ill-fated truck, loaded with granite, rammed into a
taxi conveying the students from their institution to the town.
The affected students were said to have
died on the spot. This immediately caused unrest as their colleagues
stormed the ever-busy Abeokuta/ Ibadan road and barricaded with
bonfires.
The four similar trucks ran into the
rampaging students and were set ablaze.
The protest led to a traffic gridlock on
the highway as motorists and commuters could not proceed to their
respective destinations for hours.
Confirming the incident, the state
Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr Muyiwa Adejobi on Friday
night, said some miscreants hijacked the students’ protest.
Adejobi, who stated that only two
students have been confirmed dead at press time, said there was
conflicting reports on the number of victims involved in the accident.
He said the police had to disperse the
protesters when their protest was spiraling out of control.
Adejobi added that the Police
Commissioner, Ikemefuna Okoye, attempted to calm the protesters who,
however, defied all entreaties.
He said, “The protest was hijacked by
miscreants; it was not just a student protest again. The CP tried to
address the protesters but they went on the rampage.
The police had to dislodge them with
teargas.
“Most of the students retreated when the
management tried to address them but some hoodlums who hijacked the
protest continued, threatening to burn all the tippers at Asero
motorpark.
“As to the number of victims, there are
conflicting reports. The command is yet to be briefed by the DPO (in
charge of Obantoko Division) who is busy maintaining law and order in
the area.”
Adejobi, however, assured that policemen
were on ground to ensure normalcy returns to the area.
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