Tragedy struck in Abeokuta,the Ogun state capital Friday when no fewer than five students of the Federal College of Education (FCE), Osiele, were crushed to death by a tipper.
The incident, which occurred about 5:30 pm, caused pandemonium following the protest by students of the institution who trooped to the road and set ablaze no less than four trucks.
Saturday Vanguard gathered that the truck, loaded with granite, rammed into a taxi conveying the students and killed them on the spot.
The development prompted their colleagues to barricade the Abeokuta-Odeda-Ibadan road which is opposite their campus with bonfire.
All travelers plying the road were trapped in the traffic snarl on the highway,making it difficult for motorists and commuters to proceed to their respective destinations for more than one hour.
Confirming the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Muyiwa Adejobi, said some miscreants hijacked the students' protest. Adejobi,however said that only two students have been confirmed dead,saying there were conflicting reports on the number of victims involved in the accident.
He said the police had to disperse the protesters when their protest was spiralling out of control. Adejobi added that the Police Commissioner, Ikemefuna Okoye, attempted to calm the protesters who, however, defied all entreaties. He said, "The protest was hijacked by miscreants; it was not just a student protest again. The CP tried to address the protesters but they went on the rampage. The police had to dislodge them with teargas.
"Most of the students retreated when the management tried to address them but some hoodlums who hijacked the protest continued, threatening to burn all the tippers at Asero motor park.
When Saturday Vanguard visited the scene,Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) and mobile policemen were seen at the hot point.
