The students of the Federal College of Agriculture, Moore Plantation, Apata, Ibadan,Oyo State, have refused to return to classes despite the news that the student who was hit by a car on Wednesday had come out of a coma.
Aminu Adekola, a 200L of Agricultural Technology
in the school, was hit by a driver who veered off the road unto the
path of the student who was walking towards the school gate.
According
to eyewitness reports, the driver, who was a learner, was trying to
avoid a head-on collision with a truck that strayed off its lane in an
attempt to avoid a pothole, Punch reports.
Students of the institution accused officials of the Oyo State Ministry of Works of digging the hole in 2014 while repairing a rusty water pipe.
Our correspondent, who visited the scene around 7.15 am on Thursday, observed that the students had caused a gridlock on the Ibadan-Abeokuta Road after blocking the road with tyres, planks and other objects.
The
students also dug the road to stop free traffic flow in front of the
school as all vehicles taking the route were forced to take an
alternative road.
The road, which was blocked by the students, connects inner Ibadan with some communities, including Apata, Owode and Omi-Adio.
Our
correspondent also observed that several policemen were stationed at
the scene to forestall a further breakdown of law and order.
The team was led by the Divisional Police Officer, Apata, Mr. Hassan Khalil.
The students also protested against the deployment of an Armoured Personnel Carrier by the police.
A worker of the institution said the students locked and chased employees out of their offices.
The students later stormed the state secretariat but could not gain entrance into the premises.
One of the students, who identified himself as Sadiq, blamed the water corporation for the accident.
He said students from other tertiary institutions in the state had joined in the protest.
“From
what we heard, our colleague was hit by a learner who was avoiding a
truck. The truck was trying to avoid entering a pothole. The hole was
dug last year by officials of the water corporation. They worked there
for many days and after their work, they left the huge hole.
“There
should be a fly-over in front of the school gate to protect the
students from accidents or in the interim, speed breakers. This is an
expressway and students cross the road at great risk all the time,” he
added.
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