The Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko (AAUA) in Ondo State has shut down indefinitely by the Authorities of the institution .
The indefinite closure of the school was coming about 24 hours after an accident caused by a truck belonging to Dangote Group claimed the lives of some students of the institution.
It was gathered that over 12 persons were feared killed when a Dangote truck loaded with bags of cement crushed passersby, students and traders before ramming into shops opposite the university after it suffered break failure in Akungba-Akoko, Akoko South West Local Government area of Ondo State.
The move by the institution to shut down the school was due to the rising tension among students as well as indigenes of the community over the allegation that the government has failed to find lasting solutions to the incessant road crashes which had claimed lots of lives in the community.
In a circular signed by the Acting Registrar of the institution, Opeoluwa Akinfemiwa, students of the institutions were directed to leave the school premises by 6:00 pm on Sunday.
The circular read “Further to our circular of Saturday 23rd January, 2021 and the attendant protest by students on Sunday, 24th January, 2021, the Acting Vice Chancellor, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, Prof Olugbenga Ige, on behalf of Senate, has directed that the University be closed with immediate effect until further notice.
“All students are therefore advised to vacate the campus latest by 6pm today, Sunday 24th January, 2021.”
Meanwhile some irate youths in the community had on Sunday prevented a government delegation from entering the community.
Among those in the delegation who were said to have been sent by Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu to assess the situation were the Chief of Staff, Olugbenga Ale and the Pro-Chancellor of Adekunle Ajasin University, Dr. Tunji Abayomi.
THE TRAGEDY:
It was earlier reported that tragedy struck in the university community of Akungba-Akoko, headquarters of Akoko South West Local Government Area of Ondo State, on Saturday as no fewer than 12 people were feared dead in a fatal road accident.
The accident occurred opposite Adekunle Ajasin University barely a month after a similar accident, but in which no life was lost.
According to an eyewitness, the truck belonging to Dangote Group was coming from Ikare Akoko area in Akoko North East Local Government Area of the state, lost control and rammed into shops along the road.
The eyewitness, who did not want their name mentioned, said about eight bodies had been recovered under the truck.
“The trailer was coming from Ikare Akoko axis and had a brake failure, so the driver lost control of the vehicle and swerved off the road into the shops, where students of the university were shopping.
”As I am talking to you now, we have been able to recover eight bodies, we are still trying to rescue those that are trapped inside the shop,” the eyewitness said.
When contacted, Ondo police spokesman Tee-Leo Ikoro confirmed that eight people died in the incident.
“The cement trailer was coming from Obajana in Kogi State when it rammed into the shops. Eight dead bodies have been recovered and our men are still searching for other trapped victims,” he was quoted as saying.
Meanwhile, three of the victims of the Saturday’s crash were siblings. Two of them were final year students of the university.
It was gathered that their mother collapsed and died on hearing the news of their death.
A former students’ union president of the university and final year Law student, Adesomoju Tobi, was among the victims.
The university’s management yesterday ordered closure of the institution till further notice. Examinations, which were scheduled to commence on Monday, have also been put off.
Acting Vice Chancellor Prof. Olugbenga Ige, who visited the scene, commiserated with the victims’ families, describing the incident as a tragedy.
(With reports by thisislagos.ng/GVE)