2 September 2008
Lagos — Business activities were yesterday paralysed at Ago-Iwoye as aggrieved students of Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU) staged a protest against the host community over the death of a final year student in a ghastly auto crash on Monday.
Daily Champion gathered that the accident occured at 12noon yesterday when a sleek car occupied by three students of the institution collided with an 18-seater passenger bus at Ita-Merin area in Ago-Iwoye.
Consequently, the students were worst hit such that they were immediately rushed to Ogun State University Teaching Hospital (OSUTH) for emergency treatment.
But in the process, one of them who was a final year student died leaving the other two who were said to be in critical condition behind on their admission bed.
The institution Public Relations Officer (PRO), Mr. Tony Ogunbiyi confirmed the death of the student but he did not disclose his name for security reason. However the State Police Command Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Sunny Uba said he was not aware of the accident due to his commitment to the ongoing recruitment exercise.
Trouble started when some students on getting wind of the death of their colleague earlier in the day took to Ago-Iwoye streets and started attacking commercial bus drivers who they accused of being responsible for the death of many of their colleagues in motor accident. The students reportedly stormed some motor parks where they vandalised some vehicles and threatened to close them down.
Their action which met a stiff opposition from members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and indigenes of Ago-Iwoye almost led to a violent clash even as it recorded minor skirmishes in some areas. The attendant tension, however, forced some indigenes of Ago-Iwoye to close shops and stay indoor while students started fleeing the town for fear of the unknown.
Even at press time yesterday, anxiety was still mounting as students have barred commercial buses drivers who are mostly indigenes of Ago-Iwoye from operating at the university permanent site and mini campus.
Policemen we learnt have equally been deployed to flash points to prevent breakdown of law and order.
Though the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) Ago-Iwoye Mr. Femi Atanda could not be reached for comment, OOU Public Relations Officer, Mr. Ogunbiyi said that situation was under control. It would be recalled that academic activities had been suspended at College of Science, Ibogun campus of the OOU following the students protest.
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