Varsity shut over students’ threat to block highway

The management of Federal University Lokoja (FUL) in Kogi State has shut down the institution following a threat by students to block the Abuja-Lagos highway over the killing of their colleagues by trucks.

The university management announced the closure in a statement signed by the FUL Registrar, Dr Rebecca Okojie, on Thursday, February 20, 2025.

Okojie noted that the management’s decision was sequel to the loss of the lives of five students to a trailer accident at Felele City Centre in Lokoja on Monday, February 17.

Okojie stated: “Following the unfortunate incident, the students barricaded the gates of the university in spite of magnanimous interventions from the state government as well as frantic efforts and appeals by the university management for calm.

“Based on the advice of the security agencies and to forestall further loss of lives, the vice-chancellor, after due consultation with management, has decided on behalf of the senate to close down the university indefinitely.

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“Students are therefore advised to vacate the campuses before 12 noon of Thursday, February 20.”

Some protesting students of the university had on Wednesday, February 19, threatened to block the ever-busy Abuja-Lagos highway if the federal government failed to stop the incessant killings of their colleagues by trucks.

The President of the Student Union Government (SUG), Benjamin Timothy, said during the protest at the Falele Campus in Lokoja that the students might block the highway following the killing of students by truck drivers.

Five FUL students were killed on Monday when an articulated vehicle and a shuttle bus carrying some students had an accident.

Timothy added that with Monday’s incident, the university has recorded 12 deaths of students of the institution killed by trucks in avoidable accidents in the space of two months.

The Star