Angry Itori youths on Thursday laid siege on the Abeokuta–Lagos Expressway to protest the killing of eight students of Itori Comprehensive School, Abeokuta on Wednesday, by a truck.
Six other students were badly injured in the accident
The result of the protest was the condemnation of users of the road to several hours of gridlock traffic. Officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) battled long hours to ease the flow of traffic while authorities of the school also announced its temporary shutdown, in a move to foreclose any chance of breakdown of law and order.
Mr. Segun Odubela, the commissioner of education, science and technology in Ogun State, confirmed the closedown of the school, saying it was a preventive measure against breakdown of law and order.
In addition, he confirmed the deaths and the injuries, saying the latter group of students had transported to the Federal Medical Centre, Idi–Aba, for treatment.
Also confirming the tragedy, Itori Unit Commander of FRSC, Mr. Fatai Bakare said the traffic congestion was the consequence of the anger of students with the killing of their mates.
One day after the accident, the school already cut a deserted figure, as it was devoid of student presence even during school hours on Thursday, while members of teaching and management staff were seen trying to identify the bodies of pupils consumed by the calamity.
