In a tragic incident on Monday, February 17, 2025, an articulated truck lost control and collided with a shuttle bus carrying students from the Federal University Lokoja (FUL) in Kogi State, resulting in the deaths of seven (7) students and the bus driver.
In response to the tragedy, FUL students initiated protests on Tuesday, February 18, demanding immediate action from authorities to prevent similar incidents in the future. The demonstrations continued into Wednesday, with students calling for restrictions on heavy-duty trucks operating during daytime hours to enhance road safety around the university campus.
The university administration has expressed deep concern over the incident and the subsequent protests. In light of the unrest, the institution has been shut down indefinitely to ensure the safety of students and staff.
The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) has initiated an investigation into the accident. The Kogi State Sector Commander of the FRSC, Samuel Oyedeji, led the rescue operation and stated that 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.
As the situation develops, students have threatened to escalate their protests if concrete measures are not implemented promptly to address their safety concerns. The university community and local residents are urging authorities to enforce stricter traffic regulations to prevent further tragedies.
The school authority resulted into using force by inviting police as seen in the video to chase the students with teargas.
