Donald
Onukaoguu, the Senate President of the National Association of Nigerian
Students (NANS) and four other students have been killed in a road crash.
The students
met their end yesterday on their way to the University of Uyo, Akwa-Ibom State,
to intervene in the current crisis rocking that institution.
The lone
survivor for the accident, who is currently receiving treatment at the Federal
Medical Centre, Umuahia, claimed that an illegal road block mounted by the
police was responsible for the tragedy.
It would be
recalled that yesterday, the police killed several students during a protest
organized by students of Engineering at the university. That prompted the
decision of the NANS leaders to embark on the urgent trip to Akwa-Ibom.
The
Engineering students were protesting against new transport fees and other
anti-student policies, including the contentious “No pay, No examination”
policy.
Confirming the
death of his colleagues this morning, the President of NANS, Yinka Gbadebo,
blamed the tragedy on the police. “The police under the current IGP killed nine
students within one week; the police action is barbaric and we call for the
immediate resignation of the IGP, Mohammed Dikko Abubakar.”
However, it is
yet unclear how the incident happened. The survivor of the crash claimed that
the police mounted an illegal road block by putting heavy logs and stones on
the road and that the unsuspecting students, who were travelling in a NANS bus
rammed into the illegal barrier. According to him, the police ran away
immediately the accident occurred.
Another
source, has, however controverted that account, claiming that a trailer crushed
the students’ vehicle.
The Nigerian
police have a poor reputation of extra-judicial killings. “We are closing down
all campuses in Nigeria and national action will commence immediately,” Mr.
Gbadebo threatened.
In a similar
occurrence last February, nine students of the Nasarawa State University in
Keffi, died in a road accident at Mararaba, Karu Local Government Area as they
fled from soldiers who attacked them during a campus protest.
The soldiers ao killed several students on the scene protest .
The soldiers ao killed several students on the scene protest .
In July last
year, three students’ union leaders were killed on the Owo–Akure Road. They
were the Student Union Presidents of the Federal University of Technology,
Akure, Comrade Awopegba Oluwaseun, Comrade Akintola Abiodun of the Adeyemi College
of Education, and Comrade Oyikan Olotu of the Ondo State School of Midwifery,
Akure.
Credits to gistpage.com.ng
