The Ojodu Local Council Development Association has revealed the identities of secondary school students killed by a truck in the Ojodu area of Lagos State on Tuesday.

The students were going home after closing from school around 2 pm when the truck ran over them.

In a statement titled ‘Events of fatal motor/pedestrian accident at Ojodu involving students’, Executive Chairman of Ojodu Local Council Development Area, Odunmbaku ‘Segun, also claimed that two students died while 12 others were injured.

“Unfortunately, as a result of the accident, two students were confirmed dead on the spot. The identity of the deceased is revealed below: 1. Adedoyin Adebayo; 2. Akpolebi Israel.

“Asides from the two deceased, seven females and five males totaling 12 victims also sustained varying degrees of injuries,” he said.

READ FULL STATEMENT:

“Yesterday, December 7, 2021, at about 02:15 pm, a DAF truck with Registration No. APP 438 YA driven by one ‘Bolaji Kabiru’ rammed into some pedestrians at Grammar School Bus Stop along Ogunnusi Road later identified as students of Bab Fafunwa Millennium School, Ojodu Junior Grammar School, Omole Junior High School.

Corpses of the dead students have been evacuated with the support of officers of the Federal Road Safety Corps and were deposited at the Morgue of the Mainland Hospital, Yaba, for autopsy.

As of now, we can confirm that all the injured students are in stable conditions and are receiving medical attention at the following Hospitals,

• God’s Apple City Hospital, Ojodu Berger
• Royan Hospital, Aina Street Ojodu
• St. Michael Hospital, Ojodu
• Lagos State Emergency Hospital, Toll Gate, Ojota.

The erring driver has been apprehended and is in police custody.

However, the angry students who were later joined by hoodlums set the accidented vehicle ablaze, vandalised the Ojodu Police Station, operational vehicles of the men of Nigeria Police Force, the Vehicle Inspection Service, and some private articulated vehicles along Ogunnusi road.

My heart is broken for the families and friends of students who lost their lives in this horrible accident. This is a devastating tragedy, my thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected by the horrible accident.

My heartfelt condolences to the victims’ families. May God grant them the fortitude to bear the irreplaceable loss. While I give assurances that justice will be done, we have also commenced proper examination and analysis of the survivors.

I implore us all to maintain the peace and remain calm, rather than take to wanton destruction of properties and facilities let us remember the bereaved families in prayer, allow the police to carry out a thorough investigation, and avoid seeking self-help.

I appeal that we respect the family’s privacy. There’s a need for calm at this trying time.”

Ojodu Grammar School students’ death left me devastated — Sanwo-Olu

Also, the Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has said that the death of some students of Ojodu Grammar School who were crushed by a truck driver on Tuesday, has left him devastated.

Sanwo-Olu, in a condolence message signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Gboyega Akosile, on Wednesday expressed sadness over the death, describing the demise of the students as sad, unfortunate and avoidable.

He sympathised with the families of the deceased, their relatives, friends, management and staff of Ojodu Grammar School.

“I commiserate with the parents, management, staff and students of Ojodu Grammar School over this unfortunate death of our students, whose lives were cut short by a truck driver yesterday.

“The sad incident has left me devastated since yesterday because it is terrible to hear about the death of innocent children, especially, in a clearly avoidable circumstance like what happened.

“As a parent, words cannot express how shattered I was when I learnt about the incident. No one’s life, including those vibrant students, who were returning from where they had gone to learn for a better future, deserved to be ended in that manner.

“My deepest sympathies go out to their parents. I pray that God will grant them the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.

“Our prayers are also with the survivors, who are receiving treatment at the hospitals,” the governor said.

The state government had on Wednesday ordered that the affected schools be closed immediately till January, while investigations were ongoing.

Odunmbaku, ACP Alli Zongo Visit Accident Victims In Hospitals

Meanwhile, the Executive Chairman of Ojodu LCDA Executive, Mr David Olusegun Odunmbaku (DOS) and Area Commander, Area F Police Command, Ikeja, ACP Alli Zongo, visited the hospitals to commiserate with victims of the Tuesday truck accident around Grammar School.

The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) Ojodu, CSP Akinola Arowojolu was also part of the team that visited the victims at St Timothy Hospital, Royal Hospital, God’s Apple City Hospital and Lagos State Accident and Control Centre.