Poly students protest colleague’s death

The burning truck
| credits: Jesusegun Alagbe

The students of the Federal Polytechnic, Ede, Osun State took to the streets of the town on Saturday evening to protest against the death of Tawakalit Arinola, a student of the school, who was killed by a truck driver.

Our correspondent learnt that Arinola, a Higher National Diploma 1 student of the Accountancy Department, had gone to a friend to collect some books in preparation for her final paper on Monday before she met her untimely death.

A member of the Student Union Government of the institution, Adeyemi Oyeleke, who spoke with PUNCH Metro on the telephone on Monday, said, “Arinola went to meet a friend on Saturday afternoon for discussions about their final paper for the semester which will hold on Monday.

“When she was through with her friend, she took an okada (motorcycle) to return to her hostel, but as they were riding along the CAC Grammar school area, which is close to the school gate, a reckless truck driver swerved to their path and hit them.”

Oyeleke said immediately the accident happened, Arinola was rushed to Azeez Hospital, which was near the scene of the accident.

However, Arinola could not survive the accident as she had lost a great deal of blood.

Oyeleke said, “On getting to the hospital, she was pronounced dead. However, the okada rider who carried Arinola was lucky as he was only injured and was rushed to Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Teaching Hospital in Osogbo where he is now being treated.”

The protest, which eventually led to an affray between the students and the indigenes, lasted between 3.40pm on Saturday to 12am on Sunday, resulting into one of the students being severely injured.

PUNCH Metro learnt that some truck drivers had attacked some of the students when they (the students) allegedly burnt the truck that crushed Arinola.

Calls put through by our correspondent to the Osun State Police PRO, Sade Odoro, to get police comment on the incident were unsuccessful
Source: Punch