Police Brutalise University of Lokaja Students Demanding Pedestrian Bridge After Recent Truck Accident

The Federal University Lokoja has been shut down indefinitely following protests that started after a fatal truck accident that killed several students boarding a bus, prompting demands for the construction of a pedestrian bridge to prevent future tragedies.

While the school’s registrar confirmed the deaths of five students, Sahara Reporters reported that seven students died in the accident. The students took to the streets, demanding action from authorities. However, rather than addressing their concerns, police responded with force, using tear gas and live ammunition to disperse the student protesters.

Videos circulating online show officers brutalising unarmed students, with some reportedly injured in the chaos. The excessive force has drawn widespread criticism from activists and student groups, who now call for accountability and justice.

Amid the unrest, the school management released an official statement announcing the university’s closure, citing safety concerns. However, students and rights groups argue that shutting down the school does not address the root cause of the protests—road safety and police brutality.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, Take It Back Movement coordinator Sunday Oguntola condemned the recent police brutality against students of the Federal University Lokoja, Kogi State.

The Take It Back Movement Student’s Wing vehemently condemns the abhorrent and unlawful actions of the Nigerian Police against unarmed citizens, most recently exemplified by their brutal response to students peacefully protesting for their rights,” the statement reads in part.

This incident is one of many accidents around the university that has claimed lives and injured many students, prompting them to demand a pedestrian bridge to forestall future occurrences.

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