Students of the Federal University Lokoja (FUL) in Kogi State have taken to the streets in protest following a tragic accident that claimed the lives of seven students and a shuttle bus driver.
The demonstration, which began on Tuesday and extended into Wednesday morning, aimed to pressure authorities into taking urgent action to improve road safety around the university.
The fatal incident occurred at approximately 2:30 PM on Monday, February 18, when a truck carrying wood and jerrycans of palm oil lost control and crashed into a fully loaded school shuttle bus.
According to eyewitnesses, the impact was catastrophic, crushing the bus and killing eight people on the spot.
“The truck driver lost control and rammed into the shuttle, which was set to depart with students onboard. The damage was overwhelming,” a student recounted to SaharaReporters.
Outraged by the tragic loss, students mobilized and blocked roads leading to the university, demanding a ban on heavy-duty trucks during daytime hours.
They also gathered at the institution’s main entrance, calling on the government to implement stricter traffic regulations to prevent similar accidents in the future.
Emergency responders, including personnel from the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), rushed to the scene to rescue victims.
Kogi State FRSC Sector Commander, Samuel Oyedeji, confirmed that while the exact casualty figures were still being verified, multiple bodies had been transported to the morgue.
The injured victims were receiving treatment at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Lokoja, and the Kogi State Specialist Hospital.
The ongoing protest has heightened calls for immediate safety measures. One of the demonstrators stated, “We assembled at the school gate on Tuesday, demanding concrete steps to prevent future road tragedies.
“The Kogi State Deputy Governor visited the university entrance to express condolences to grieving students and staff.”
As of Wednesday morning, students remained on the streets, continuing their protest for justice and improved road safety measures.
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