More crises in Ojodu Berger over students crushed to death by trailer

By Ibrahim Adeleke

Unrest in the Ojodu Berger area of Lagos State continued on Wednesday as students and hoodlums kept attacking vehicles, especially trailers plying the route.

It had been reported that a delivery truck, allegedly running from the Lagos State Traffic Management officials, on Tuesday lost control and rammed into pupils of Ojodu Grammar School, Ojodu, Berger, crushing several schoolchildren to death.

The incident, which happened in the afternoon, led to a crisis in the area that lasted till Tuesday evening, as hoodlums harping on the accident, wreaked havoc on passers-by and vehicles.

The situation, which was later calmed down by police’s intervention, continued on Wednesday as students and hoodlums descended on the FRSC command office in the area.

A VIS officer, who did not want his name mentioned, said most of the officers of the FRSC, VIS and LASTMA have been sent home following the actions of the hoodlums.

“We have been all sent home. The situation is getting worst. The hoodlums have taken over the whole thing. As I speak with you, none of us could walk freely in that place without being battered. Several trailers have been vandalised by the hoodlums. Thank God for the OPC men and police at our gate that also confronted them.”

A driver who simply identified himself as Kolawole told our correspondent that vehicles had been avoiding the route because of the crisis.

He said: “I was going to Ojodu Berger, but when I realised that the situation was unbearable, I have to turn back. Other vehicles have also been turning back to avoid being vandalised. We have to avoid the route till the crisis will go down.

Meanwhile, Police in Lagos State said two students were killed in the tragic incident yesterday.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Adekunle Ajisebutu, in a statement said two people died in the accident while 12 people were injured.

Ajisebutu noted that the driver, Bolaji Kabiru, had also been arrested.

He said, “Traffic personnel from the Motor Traffic Department of the Ojodu Police Division immediately visited the scene. Corpses of the dead students (identity not yet known) were removed with the support of officers of the FRSC and were deposited at the morgue of the Mainland Hospital, Yaba, for autopsy. The erring driver has been apprehended and kept in police custody.

“However, the angry students, who were later joined by hoodlums, set the accident vehicle ablaze. They also attacked the Ojodu Police Station in their large number, demanding the release of the driver for jungle justice.

“However, when their demand was not met, they became violent. In the process, they destroyed four vehicles parked on the premises of the police station and another mobile truck on the highway.

“To avoid total breakdown of law and order, the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, immediately ordered the deployment of policemen comprising tactical teams, Rapid Response Squad and others to the scene to maintain law and order.

“The protesters were professionally dispersed with minimum force without resulting in any further injury.

“While commiserating with the bereaved families who lost their loved ones in the fatal motor accident, the Commissioner of Police appeals to sympathisers and other members of the public to allow the police to carry out a thorough investigation and avoid seeking self-help.”