Three students’ union leaders die in auto crash

 

THREE students’ union leaders over the weekend died in an auto crash at Emure Ile junction on Owo-Akure expressway.

The deceased were the Student Union Presidents of Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), Comrade Awopegba Oluwaseun popularly known as “DCO”; Adeyemi College of Education (ACE) Comrade Akintola Abiodun and Ondo State School of Midwifery, Akure, Comrade Oyikan Olotu.
The students’ leaders were said to have died instantly while several others who sustained injuries were rushed to the Federal Medical Centre Owo (FMC), for urgent treatment.

It was gathered they were returning from an award ceremony organised in honour of Ondo State Governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko in Abuja. They were in a bus donated to the Joint Campus Committee by the state government recently.

It was gathered the bus driven by one of the students was on a top speed before ramming into an approaching trailer. The bus, witnesses said, somersaulted twice and hit another coming vehicle in the process. Journalists were barred by policemen and government agents from taking photographs at the hospital.

One of the policemen, who spoke under the condition of anonymity, said they were acting on directive from above. Confirming the incident, the image-maker of the state’s police command, Alhaji Adeniran Aremu, however said the students were involved in a lone accident due to over speeding around 8pm.

Aremu said the remains of the dead students were deposited at the State Specialist Hospital morgue in Akure while several others were receiving treatment at the same hospital. He dispelled the claims that journalists were barred from carrying out their duties by the state government.

The incident has since sparked off protest from FUTA students who barricaded the Akure/Ilesha road.
For several hours, motorists and other road users were prevented from moving to their destinations.
Chatting war-like songs, the students pointed accusing fingers at the state government for dragging students into unnecessary politicking.

Carrying placards of various inscriptions, the protesters said it was sad that students who should be studying and fighting for their welfare have become tools in the hands of greedy and selfish politicians.