Protest at Federal University Lokoja as bus-truck collision leaves 5 students dead

Five have been confirmed dead at Federal University Lokoja (FUL) in Kogi after a truck collided with a bus shuttle.

A heavy-duty vehicle, loaded with palm oil and firewood, rammed into a bus shuttle transporting FUL students to campus.

The accident has since left the university’s community in grief, with students cordoning off the FUL gate in a mourning protest.

The university management, in response, has declared lecturer-free days from noon February 18 to February 19.

“It is with heavy hearts that we announce the tragic loss of five of our promising students, who were taken away from us too soon in a fatal trailer accident,” Ojo said in a statement.

Ojo said all university activities will also be on a low-key while the institution’s flag will fly at half-mast as a symbol of mourning.

The varsity’s management extended condolences to the families of the victims and the campus community.

Salifu Joel Oyibo, the Kogi state deputy governor, has visited the university’s campus on Tuesday to address the students.

Oyibo assured the student community that urgent measures are being taken to end repeated accidents along the Felele axis.

He said the state government has constituted a committee including the university’s management, student leaders, the state security adviser, the education commissioner, and relevant government functionaries.

Oyibo added that the committee has convened a meeting at the government house to find a lasting solution.