Why Accidents Persist at AAUA – Akeredolu

Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo state has blamed some residents of Akungba community for the continued accidents on the federal road in front of Adekunle Ajasin University school gate.

The governor in a statement released through his chief press secretary, Mr. Richard Olatunde on Friday said the residents have always open a barricade mounted by the state government on the road in front of school for heavy duty trucks to pass, after collecting money from drivers.

At least three Persons, including Akiniyi Michael, who graduated from the school in 2017, were reportedly killed at the main entrance of the school in a crash involving a heavy truck on Thursday.

Sources said the accident was one of three that happened in the community on the same day.

“One happened in the Cele area of the university when the trailer conveying goods swerved into the bush; the other happened around Ramosa Petrol Station, close to Okusa market, when the trailer which had lost its break was trying to regain balance. The one that happened at night killed a graduate, while the trailer escaped,” a source revealed.

The Akungba-Ikare road, which links neighbouring towns like Owo and Akure has become to many road users, a death trap because of frequent accidents which have claimed many lives.

On the 23rd of January, 2022, students of the university tweeted in memory of their colleagues who died in a similar accident on January 23, 2021. The accident, which occurred very close to the university’s main gate, led to the untimely death of many students, including the former student union president, Adesomoju Oluwatobi Samuel, popularly known as Sampraise.

On February 1, 2022, an accident also occurred in the same area. According to AAUA students, the recurrent accidents are the result of the narrow Akungba-Ikare road that passes by the school.

A student, who asked not to be named, faulted the state government for not paying attention to the narrow road which is plied by heavy trucks.

However, while responding to the incident that triggered a peaceful student protest on Friday morning, the state government said, in the statement, ”The incident was not expected given the steps that had been taken to forestall such occurrence after the incessant accidents that have claimed indigenes and students.”

“On several occassions, I have visited Akungba Akoko on the heels of incessant incidents,” the statement quoted Rotimi Akeredolu, governor of the state, to have said. “As part of our temporary solution to the situation, a barricade was mounted. It was expected that no heavy duty vehicle would ply that road again. However, we have received reports that some residents of the town open this barricade for heavy duty trucks to pass for a token.”