Car kills UNIABUJA student fleeing from robbers

Posted by admin Abuja (FCT), Headlines, State News Monday, February 20th, 2017

Afeez Hanafi

A 200-level undergraduate of the University of Abuja escaped a robbery attack around the main campus on Sunday, only to run into an oncoming vehicle near the school gate.

The student of History and Diplomatic Studies, identified simply as Simi Love, was reportedly crushed by the car, and died afterwards at the school’s clinic.

The incident made students of the institution to stage a protest on Monday, lamenting the shortcomings of the school’s security.

The protest, which caused traffic on the Airport Road, lasted for hours as students’ demanded that the school management put in place some security measures immediately.

A student of Geography and Environmental Management, who gave her name only as Jibola, blamed the incident on the volatility of the school surroundings.

She said, “The lady was coming back from home yesterday (Sunday). She was attacked by armed robbers. She was about escaping when a car hit her around the school gate. That area is very dangerous. There is no security and no streetlight to guide students into the campus. The area is bushy.”

Another student, Kayode, said there had been cases of robbery attacks along the road and enjoined the school management to urgently address the challenge.

“The driver of the car that hit her didn’t run away. He took her to the school clinic, where she died. The clinic also needs to be equipped; no adequate equipment there,” he added.

The Public Relations Officer, Students Union Government, Emmanuel Onwukwe, said the SUG made some formal requests, which were agreed to by the vice-chancellor before the protest was suspended.

The list, which was obtained by PUNCH Metro, read in part, “Due to the sad incident that caused the death of one of our students, Simi Love, and other lingering issues concerning the welfare of the students, the following are the resolutions of a meeting between the SUG and the management: The VC agreed with thSUG to set up a committee comprising the management and students to get a capable hand for the post of Chief Security Officer.

“It was agreed that the VC would write to the officer in charge of the Iddo division to deploy patrol vans in the main gate area and under the bridge. The management should critically look into the staffing of the clinic and how to efficiently get it equipped.”

Efforts to get the management’s reaction proved abortive as calls put across to a phone number on its website were diverted.

-Punch

wp_posts