Ojodu Grammar school: Identities of late students crushed by truck revealed

The Ojodu Local Council Development Association has revealed the identities of the students of the Ojodu Grammar School that were killed by a truck in the Ojodu area of Lagos State on Tuesday, December 7.

The students were returning home when the truck suffered brake failure and rammed into them.

In a statement released today and titled ‘Events of fatal motor/pedestrian accident at Ojodu involving students’, Executive Chairman of Ojodu Local Council Development Area, Odunmbaku ‘Segun, 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 the full statement below

”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.”

Eyewitnesses have said 17 students of Bab Fafunwa Millennium School, Ojodu, formerly Ojodu Grammar School, died in Tuesday’s tragedy, debunking claims by the Police that “only two males died on the spot”, and the Lagos State government has shut down the school until January next year.

The Commissioner for Education, Folashade Adefisayo, made the announcement when she visited the school on Wednesday.

A white delivery truck, on Tuesday, allegedly chased by officials of Lagos State Traffic Management Agency, LASTMA, ran into children returning from school, killing many.

According to an eyewitness, the truck driver attempted to escape after crushing the pupils, but was caught at Ogba very close to Excellence Hotel, where the truck was set ablaze.

Police was to later say only two students died. But eyewitnesses told Vanguard reporter, who was at the scene on Wednesday, that 17 died.

One of the residents, who don’t want to be mentioned, said she was shouting at the top of her voice when the incident happened, adding that “17 students died in the accident”.

“I couldn’t behold the bodies of the kids because of their damaged body parts. It’s an ugly experience.

“It’s a lie that two students died. I can confirm to you that 17 students died as a result of the incident,” she said.

“One of the kids’ stomach was ruptured and the intestines were outside.”

“A woman who lost her only daughter to the incident died this morning (Wednesday) as a result of the shock,” another resident disclosed.