By Mark Mayah
The students had gathered early in the morning at the university’s main gate, demanding justice for their fallen peers and calling for improved road safety measures around the campus.
Chaos erupted at the Federal University Lokoja (FUL) in Kogi State on Thursday as police officers fired teargas and gunshots to disperse protesting students who were demonstrating against the recent tragic accident that claimed the lives of some of their colleagues.
The students had gathered early in the morning at the university’s main gate, demanding justice for their fallen peers and calling for improved road safety measures around the campus.
According to a source who spoke to Daily Topic, the protest began peacefully, with students carrying placards and chanting solidarity songs.
However, the situation escalated when security operatives deployed to the scene attempted to disperse the demonstrators.
The protest was triggered by a fatal accident that occurred near the university’s permanent site.
The fatal accident, which occurred around 2:30pm on Monday, saw an articulated truck carrying wood and jerrycans of palm oil lose control and ram into a shuttle bus filled with students.
According to eyewitnesses, the bus was about to take students to school when the speeding truck crushed it completely.
About seven students died instantly after the accident.
In an attempt to quell the protest, heavily armed police officers arrived at the scene and allegedly used excessive force, firing tear gas and live rounds into the air to disperse the gathering.
This was seen in multiple videos obtained by Daily Topic which captured the moment the police officer opened fire at the undergraduate students.
Reacting, the authorities at the Federal University Lokoja immediately ordered that the school should be closed down indefinitely.
A circular signed by the school registrar Dr. Rebecca Aimiohu Okojie, dated February 20th, 2025, announced that the closure decision was made after consultations between the Vice-Chancellor and the University Management, acting on the advice of the state security agencies.
The circular stated that students, angered by the unfortunate incident, had barricaded the university gates despite interventions from the state government and repeated appeals from the University Management to maintain peace.
Given the escalating tensions, authorities deemed the closure necessary to prevent further loss of lives and maintain order.
Students were instructed to vacate both campuses within one hour of the circular’s release and no later than 12 noon on Thursday, February 20, 2025.
The circular reads: “Following the unfortunate loss of the lives of five students to a tragic trailer accident at Felele city centre on Monday, 17th February, 2025, students have barricaded the gates of the university despite magnanimous interventions from the the State Government as well as frantic efforts and appeal by the University Management for calm.
“Accordingly, arising from the advice of the State Security Agencies and to forestall further loss of lives, the Vice-Chancellor after due consultation with Management has decided on behalf of Senate, that the University (both campuses) be closed down INDEFINITELY within one hour of release of this circular.
“Students are therefore, to vacate the campuses on/or before 12 noon, today, Thursday, 20 February, 2025.”
