Education
7 FUL students killed in tragic road accident, protests erupt
DDM News
Lokoja, Kogi State – A devastating accident has claimed the lives of seven students from the Federal University Lokoja (FUL).
According to Diaspora digital media (DDM), an articulated truck collided with a university shuttle bus along the Felele Highway.
The incident occurred on Wednesday, February 19, 2025, around 2:30 pm.
The tragedy has caused widespread grief and triggered student protests.
Eyewitnesses reported that the truck was heavily loaded with wood and palm oil.
It lost control and crashed into the stationary shuttle bus.
The bus was waiting to transport students to campus when the tragedy struck.
The impact was severe, leading to the immediate deaths of seven students.
The bus driver also lost his life in the crash.
Several other students sustained injuries and were rushed to the hospital.
The injured were taken to the Federal Teaching Hospital, Lokoja, and the Kogi State Specialist Hospital.
The Felele Highway is notorious for frequent accidents involving heavy-duty vehicles.
Motorists and residents have long expressed concerns about its safety.
This latest tragedy has intensified calls for stricter traffic regulations.
Students of FUL launched massive protests on Tuesday, February 18.
The protests continued into Wednesday as students expressed anger and frustration.
They demanded immediate action from the government and university management.
Their goal is to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
Among their demands is the restriction of heavy-duty trucks during daytime hours.
They also called for improved traffic regulations and enhanced road safety measures.
A student leader addressed the press on Wednesday.
He emphasized the students’ determination to fight for change.
He stated, “We gave you 72 hours so you will not say 48 hours is not enough.”
He explained that an agreement was reached the previous day.
This agreement led him to leave the venue to attend to the deceased students.
He declared, “We, the students of Federal University Lokoja, give you our word.”
He insisted that no student would enter the university gate until the policy was implemented.
He vowed, “Until that policy is implemented, I promise you, with the last drop of my blood, we will fight till the end.”
He said students were prepared to leave the school if necessary.
He stressed that the moment called for solidarity and unity.
He stated, “We are all in pain, and we are not going home to rest.”
He declared, “There will be no lectures until our policies are implemented.”
His passionate speech resonated with the crowd, fueling the ongoing protests.
Students vowed to continue demonstrating until authorities took action.
The university community and Lokoja residents have joined the call for urgent measures.
Many expressed concerns over recurring accidents on the Felele Highway.
They emphasized that previous warnings and petitions were ignored.
University authorities and government officials face mounting pressure.
Discussions are underway to explore possible solutions.
Proposals include restricting heavy trucks during school hours.
Other solutions involve increasing road surveillance and enforcing traffic laws.
Students insist that no academic activities will resume until their demands are met.
The loss of seven students in such tragic circumstances has deeply scarred the university community.
Their deaths serve as a painful reminder of the need for better traffic management.
Authorities must take urgent action to protect students and road users.
As the nation watches, attention is on the authorities to respond effectively.
The goal is to prevent future tragedies on the Felele Highway.
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