IRKED by the recurring road accidents and articulated trucks often ramming into the university community, killing people, students of Adekunle Ajasin University Akungba (AAUA) and resident of the town today took to the streets to protest menace.
NaijaTimes gathered that a truck yesterday skidded off the road and ram into school and killed a former student of the institution, who was identified as Michael.
The victim it was learnt had come to the university for his clearance but was killed by a hit-and-run truck driver, who was later trailed to a neighbouring town, Oba-Akoko, where he was arrested around 10:00pm on Thursday night.
According to sources, the truck lost control, skidded off the road, killed the AAUA alumnus, two other persons in the community and injured several others.
Piqued by the development, the student populace converged on the main gate of the institution on Friday to protest the incessant accident and the killing of their colleagues, carrying several placards and chanted protest songs.
This resulted into long hours of traffic bedlam in the community as the students mounted several road-blocks but abated due to the prompt intervention of the university management that moved in to check the excesses of the students.
The university authority, in their bid to restore calm, issued a statement postponing the ongoing examination to further pacify the enraged students.
“The Management of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, has expressed serious concern over the incessant rate of accidents claiming the lives of students of the university.
“In view of the accident that claimed the life of a former student late evening of yesterday, Thursday, 3rd February, 2022, management has decided to postpone today’s examinations. This is to honour the departed soul.
“A new date for the examinations will be announced later. The management is currently engaging all relevant stakeholders on what should be done to address the ugly trend, and put an end to vehicular accidents in the university town,” the statement read.
Meanwhile, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) Southwest Zone D, has relocated its secretariat to all major roads in Akungba-Akoko to express their grievances and angst against the incident.
In a statement today, jointly signed by the NANS Southwest Coordinator, Stephen Fiyinfoluwa Tegbe and the NANS Southwest PRO, Emmanuel Esiegbe, the students decried the incessant killing of their colleagues.
“The leadership of NANS Southwest Zone D ably led by Comr Tegbe Stephen Fiyinfoluwa would no longer keep her hand crossed as students’ lives are endangered due to the incessant accidents on Ondo State roads, particularly Akungba, Ondo State.
“With immediate effect, we hereby relocate the Secretariat of NANS Southwest Zone D to all major roads in Akungba, Ondo State until our voices are heard and a lasting solution is proffered,” the statement read.
Reacting to development, Ondo State Governor, Arakurin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, condoled with the student populace and families of the deceased, and ordered strict compliance to the measure earlier put in place to forestall reoccurrence.
He expressed deep concerns over the needless death of the residents, especially students whose dreams and aspirations are cut short in their prime.
Governor Akeredolu said the incident was not expected, given the steps that had been taken to forestall such occurrence after the incessant accidents that have claimed indigenes and students’ lives in the past.
He, in clear terms, ordered that a barricade be mounted at the troubled portion of the road to prevent heavy duty trucks from plying that route.
Expressing disappointment over people’s penchant for money over lives, the governor said, “It is disheartening that some people have turned the barricade mounted by the government to prevent these heavy trucks from plying the road, into a money-making venture.
“If people truly value lives, and understand that whatever money you made at the expense of people’s lives is blood money. This particular incident was highly avoidable.”
“On several occasions, I have visited Akungba Akoko on the heels of incessant accidents. As part of our temporary solution to the situation, a barricade was mounted. It was expected that no heavy duty vehicle would ply that road again.
“However, we have received reports that some residents of the town open this barricade for heavy duty trucks to pass for a token,” he added.
The governor warned all community leaders, youth leaders or representatives, and other residents of the town to immediately desist from the unwholesome act of flaunting the governor’s directive by opening the barricade for articulated trucks.
He said “Government will henceforth deploy armed security personnel to man this barricade and deal decisively with anyone found opening this barricade for articulated trucks.”
Governor Akeredolu assured that construction of the bad portion of the road will commence in a short time as the design for the road is ready, saying the road, being a Federal road, shall not impair his determination to save lives.
