The Lagos State Police Command has said two students of Bab Fafunwa Millennium School, in Ojodu, Lagos, were killed when a DAF truck driver, Bolaji Kabiru, rammed into some pedestrians on Tuesday afternoon.
Police Public Relations Officer in the state, CSP Adekunle Ajisebutu, disclosed this in a statement titled, ‘Fatal Motor/Pedestrians Accident At Ojodu Involving Students’.
The statement read in part, “As a result of the accident, two males died on the spot, seven females and five males totalling twelve victims sustained varying degrees of injuries.
“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 evacuated with the support of officers of the FRSC and were deposited at the Morgue of the Mainland Hospital, Yaba, for autopsy.
“The injured victims were taken to God’s Apple City Hospital, Ojodu Berger; St. Michael Hospital, Ojodu; and the Lagos State Emergency Hospital, Toll Gate.”
The police spokesperson said the erring driver has been apprehended and kept in police custody, adding that some angry students, joined by hoodlums, set the 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 in 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 to any further injury,” Ajisebutu added.
The PPRO said the CP commiserated with the bereaved families who lost their loved ones in the fatal motor accident and appealed to sympathisers and other members of the public to allow the police carry out a thorough investigation, and avoid seeking self-help.
Punch