Barely weeks after the tragic accident that claimed the lives of seven students of the Federal University Lokoja (FUL), another fatal crash has occurred on the same highway, leaving one person dead.
The Bureau Newspaper gathered that the latest accident happened on Monday evening, with the victim yet to be identified.
In a gruesome video obtained by The Bureau Newspaper, the lifeless body of a young man, believed to be in his 20s, was seen lying on the highway with his head crushed by a vehicle. Blood and brain matter were scattered across the road, creating a horrific scene.
A narrator in the video explained how the accident occurred: “They said the man was inside a tricycle. A Hilux vehicle reportedly hit the tricycle, causing the man to fall out, and another car ran over him.”
This tragedy comes just weeks after a deadly accident near the university’s permanent site in February, which resulted in the deaths of seven students. That incident involved an articulated truck carrying wood and jerrycans of palm oil, which lost control and crashed into a shuttle bus filled with students.
The fatality sparked mass protests among students, leading to chaos as security operatives fired teargas and live rounds to disperse the demonstrators. The students had been demanding justice for their lost colleagues and calling for improved road safety measures around the campus.
The protest, which began peacefully with students carrying placards and chanting solidarity songs, turned violent when security personnel allegedly used excessive force to disperse the crowd.
Amid the unrest, the Federal University Lokoja authorities shut down the institution indefinitely.
A circular signed by the school’s registrar, Dr. Rebecca Aimiohu Okojie, dated February 20, 2025, cited security concerns as the reason for the closure. The statement noted that students had barricaded the university gates despite interventions from the state government and repeated appeals from university management to maintain peace.
Following an emergency Senate meeting on Monday, March 10, 2025, the university has now announced its reopening.
According to a circular signed by Dr. Okojie, students are expected to resume on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, while lectures will commence on Monday, March 17, 2025.
This latest accident further raises concerns over the alarming rate of fatal crashes along the Kogi highway, with many calling on the state government and relevant authorities to implement urgent road safety measures to prevent further loss of lives.