STUDENT: "We Gave You 72 Hours So You Won't Say 48 Hours Is Not Enough

STUDENT: “We Gave You 72 Hours So You Won’t Say 48 Hours Is Not Enough – We Will Fight Till The End”

According to a report by Sahara Reporters on Wednesday, February 19, 2025, seven students from the Federal University Lokoja (FUL) in Kogi State lost their lives when an articulated truck collided with a university shuttle bus.

The accident occurred around 2:30 PM along the Felele Highway, a route notorious for frequent accidents involving heavy-duty vehicles.

Eyewitnesses reported that the truck, laden with wood and palm oil, lost control and rammed into the stationary shuttle bus, which was preparing to transport students to campus.

The impact was devastating, resulting in the immediate deaths of seven students and the bus driver. Several other students sustained injuries and were rushed to the Federal Teaching Hospital, Lokoja, and the Kogi State Specialist Hospital for treatment.

In response to the tragedy, FUL students commenced massive protests on Tuesday, February 18, continuing into Wednesday.

The demonstrators demanded immediate action from authorities to prevent future occurrences of such accidents. They called for the restriction of heavy-duty trucks during daytime hours and the implementation of stricter traffic regulations along the Felele axis.

A student leader, addressing the press on Wednesday, said:

“We gave you 72 hours so you will not say 48 hours is not enough. And on that note, we had an agreement yesterday, which was why I left the venue to go and attend to our students who lost their lives.

“We are the students of Federal University Lokoja. I give you my word—until that policy is implemented, my students will not enter this gate. Until that policy is implemented, I promise you, with the last drop of my blood, we will fight till the end.

“Because even if it means leaving this school, we are going to do it. At this moment, we need our solidarity and unity. We are all pained. We are not going home to rest. There will be no lectures until our policies are implemented,” he declared.

As the protests continue, the university community and residents of Lokoja are calling for immediate and effective measures to enhance road safety and prevent further loss of lives.