Date: 2021-02-05

For the past two weeks, fatal accidents have plagued the roads. Students have also been involved leaving many dead and others injured. However, following the recent road crash involving students of Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, the government has been urged to ensure safer roads and stem the tide of incessant accidents, reports ABDULWAHEED SOFIULLAHI (UDUS).

The coronavirus (COVID-19) lockdown was announced last March across the country. It forced students to stay at home for some months.

As if the lockdown was not enough,the longest industrial action in the history of the country further crashed the hopes of students going back to school — the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) strike, held for nine months before it was suspended.

The directive of the Federal Government that schools should resume on Monday, January 18, 2021 was a good relief for students who had been eager to go back to school. Thus, they started packing their belongings and set out to return to their schools.

But cruel fate befell some of them as they were involved in fatal accidents. A week ago, some students of Adekunle Ajasin University Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), Ondo State lost their lives in tragic circumstances when a Dangote trailer rammed into some shops beside the school gate. Some students of Federal University, Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) were also involved in a ghastly accident last week in Itawure, Ekiti. Though no life was lost, they were seriously injured.

As the university community in AAUA was mourning their students, another accident involving Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS) students occurred Saturday, last week along Yauri Road, in Kebbi State.They were returning to school from Ilorin. It was also gathered that three other UDUS students lost their lives on their way from Ibadan to school.

Attahiru Saka, a 500-Level student of Fisheries, who lost his life in the Yauri Road accident had written on his WhatsApp status: "Journey back to school, Allah's mercy I plead for and journey mercy." Sadly, some hours later, the bus which conveyed him and his two colleagues reportedly caught fire in a fatal accident.

Also, Abduljaleel Ayanwale, a 200-Level student of English Language popularly known as "Jbright" because of brilliance was among those who when coming from Ibadan. He was an aspirant for the post of Social Director on campus. He was an advocate of good governance. He also shared the same revolutionary ideology like Omoyele Sowore, activist and Saharareporters founder.

Bello Mansuroh, a 200-Level student of Accounting also died in the same bus that carried the aforementioned casualties from Ibadan,Oyo State.

Ibrahim Aminah, a 300-Level student of Islamic Studies and Ayobola Aishat, a 100-Level Microbiology student, were among those who lost their lives in the Yauri Road accident in Kebbi State, having set out from Ilorin, Kwara State.

They were returning to school with glee,but unfortunately their dreams perished with them.

Students worried about bad roads to Sokoto State Abdulganiyu Mohammed Hawal, a 300-Level Public Administration student, has lamented the poor state of the roads leading to Sokoto from Kwara State. He said: "To be specific Niger Road is not safe for conveying animals not to talk of human beings.It is beyond mere potholes, the road is terrible. I remember we almost had an accident on that road. Let it be known to everyone that accidents of this kind happen on a daily basis, the recent went viral simply because it involved students, anyone who is conscious of the happenings while traveling on dangerous roads will never have an iota of doubt about this.

"Again, insecurity has become worrisome. According to a report, it was gathered that the Oyo accident happened because armed robbers were chasing the said bus conveying students from Oyo to Sokoto. While trying to free themselves from the robbers, their bus hit objects placed on the road by those armed robbers. This shows the level insecurity on Nigeria roads.

"Security personnel who are supposed to secure the road users are just there to collect money from the drivers, some of those men in uniform will even threaten driver sometimes if they fail to comply. Government should call them to order. The government has talked about waging war against corruption,but it leaves much to be desired. It is so sad!"

Soliu Ridwan Adisa, a 300-Level Public Administration student while decrying the condition of the roads, said: "It is no longer news that some roads leading to Sokoto State like that of Niger and some parts of Kebbi State have since become deathtraps. Law enforcement agents are also not helping matters with the way they extort drivers.

"These are the agents that were employed and paid out of the hard earned money that commoners pay as tax. While trying to forcefully extort money from drivers and travellers, they assault those that refuse to part with their money. Yet, the government that is saddled with protecting lives does not seem to be proactive enough.

"The government should take the safety of its citizens as something more than a priority and provide infrastructural amenities like good roads. May the souls of the deceased rest in peace."

Yusau Abdulrazak, a 300-Level Adult Education student, who was at the scene of the Yauri accident in Kebbi State, said:

"When we reached there (Yauri) with another bus, we hurriedly stopped and other buses that were occupied by the students coming from Ilorin were stopped to confirm what caused the accident. A person who pleaded anonymity said that Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) officers were chasing a bike which collided with the bus ,then the bus tumbled.That left many students seriously injured while two died on the spot."

An eye-witness,who pleaded anonymity, said: "I don't want to remember the horror scene. It's something that made us weep continuously because we didn't expect such to happen. The driver didn't help matters, too. He was on high speed. He couldn't control himself again when the bike crossed him."

UDUS Management to fund treatment of injured students

The Students Union (SU) President of Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Faruq Barade, while condoling with families of those who lost their lives in the accidents, noted the school management had promised to sponsor the treatment of students who were injured.

He said: "I received with great shock and dismay the news of the death of our students.Among those who died is one of my closest friends who intended contesting SU Sports Director. I really sympathise with their families and friends and the entire management of UDUS for the loss. May their gentle souls rest in peace.

"And regarding those admitted in UDUTH, we have already appealed to the school management to help in their treatment. We will make sure that something is done to take care of them."

He, however, said that the school management had taken it upon itself to bankroll the medical expenses of three students admitted in UDUTH.

" Please make it known that the Vice Chancellor has just given approval that the school would sponsor all medical expenses of the three students admitted in UDUTH," he said.