5 students feared dead as Federal University shuts down

Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi (FUAM) was compelled to shut down on Wednesday after five of its student were killed in an accident within the premises of the institution.

Newsmen gathered that the school was compelled to shut down activities when the students went violent after the incident.

They reportedly burnt the bus involved in the accident and also vandalised property on campus.

Even though, both the school authorities and the police have confirmed the incident, they were not forthcoming with the casualty figures.

It was gathered that the incident which occurred at about 7:30am in the North core section of the university claimed the lives of two students instantly.

The bus which was carrying other students, we learnt, had a tyre burst and ran into a commercial cyclist carrying two passengers, killing two of them on the spot.

Other students in the bus sustained various degrees of injury, while some were taken to the school clinic, others were transferred to the Benue State University Teaching Hospital where three more lost their lives.

Findings reveal that the students involved in the accident had left their identity cards at home and went back to get it on demand by the invigilator.

But, it was on their way back that they were involved in the accident and met their death.

It was the incident that then sparked off protests that led to the burning of the bus, vandalization of school property and subsequently, shutting down of the university in order to avert further breakdown of law and order.

In a statement signed by the Registrar and Secretary to Senate and Council, Helen Nyitse said the Vice Chancellor, FUAM, Professor Richard Kimbir, approved that students of the institution proceed on mid-term semester with immediate effect.

The students were advised to handover all university properties in their possession, and vacate the school premises before 2pm on Wednesday.

• Source: Daily Independent report