The Senate President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Donald Onukaoguu, and four other student unionists, have been killed in a road crash.
The crash occurred Wednesday while on their way to the University of Uyo, Akwa-Ibom State, to intervene in the current crisis rocking that institution.
The survivor of the accident, who is currently receiving treatment at the Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia, claimed that an illegal road block mounted by the police was responsible for the tragedy.
It would be recalled that the police reportedly killed one students during a protest organized by students of Engineering at the university. That prompted the decision of the NANS leaders to embark on the urgent trip to Akwa-Ibom.
The Engineering students were protesting against new transport fees and other anti-student policies, including the contentious “No pay, No examination” policy.
Confirming the death of his colleagues this morning, the President of NANS, Yinka Gbadebo, blamed the tragedy on the police. “The police under the current IGP killed nine students within one week; the police action is barbaric and we call for the immediate resignation of the IGP, Mohammed Dikko Abubakar.”
However, it is yet unclear how the incident happened. The survivor of the crash claimed that the police mounted an illegal road block by putting heavy logs and stones on the road and that the unsuspecting students, who were travelling in a NANS bus rammed into the illegal barrier. According to him, the police ran away immediately the accident occurred.
Another source, has, however controverted that account, maintaining that the bus was on top speed when they rammed into the logs placed on the road by police. It was also not clear if the students were under the influence of some mood altering substance