Students of the Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State, on Wednesday protested against the killing of one of their colleagues, identified as Israel Anuolowapo, by a hit-and-run driver.
Anuolowapo, a 100-level student of the Department of Mathematics, was allegedly crushed to death in front of the university main gate on Tuesday.
During the protest, the students reportedly barricaded the Ilesa-Akure Expressway, singing solidarity songs
The protest was said to have caused gridlock on the road, as motorists, especially travellers, were delayed for several hours.
The students demanded that the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing erect speed bumps on the expressway to reduce such incidents.
According to a witness, it took the intervention of men of the Ondo State Police Command, who appealed to the students, to open the road.
When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Femi Joseph, said the matter had been resolved, adding that the government had agreed to erect speed bumps on the expressway.
“When we got information about the protest, we immediately swung into action and appealed to them; nomalcy has been restored now,” he said.
The Head of Media and Protocols Unit of FUTA, Mr Adegbenro Adebayo, said representatives of the school management met with the state government on the grievances of the students, adding that a resolution had been made.
He said, “It was an unfortunate incident. It happened Tuesday and the boy died same day at a hospital. We have formally informed his parents. We met with some government officials Wednesday and our students have stopped the protest; they are all back on campus and academic activities have resumed. The state government, through the ministry of transport, has promised to erect speed bumps on the road and the work will start today (Thursday).”
