Protest in Ogun as hit-and-run driver kills student

National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) and National Association of Ogun State Students (NAOSS) on Tuesday, protested the death of a student of Gateway Polytechnic, Idowu Pelumi David, allegedly killed by a hit-and-run driver.

Idowu, an ND 1 student of Public Administration, Gateway Polytechnic, Ayepe Annex, was reportedly crushed to death by a hit-and-run driver in front of the National Youths Service Corps, (NYSC) camp, along Ayepe-Sagumu Road last week.

The protesting students accused a staff of NYSC of driving the car that killed Idowu.

During the protest, which took place at the Ogun State Police Headquarters, Eleweran, Abeokuta, the students demanded an investigation into Idowu's death.

The students were armed with placards with various inscriptions such as: "Every live matters", "We cannot be silenced on justice" and "Ogun Students Demand  Arrest and Prosecution of NYSC State Co-ordinator, Diana Nasamu for obstruction of justice".

The State Chairman of NANS, Francis Adeyanju said: "We are here to register our displeasure over the demise of one of our students. We want to believe that justice will prevail. 

"We have done our investigation and we have seen the truth, but it seems these people are trying to hide something from us. The State Co-ordinator of NYSC is trying to hide something from us, she is hiding the driver of the suspected car that killed the student. 

"Eyewitness claimed that the driver of the suspected vehicle that killed the student drove into the NYSC camp immediately but the state Co-ordinator has continued to deny this obvious truth."

Also speaking, the National President of NAOSS, Kehinde Thomas accused the State Co-ordinator of NYSC, Olayinka Diana Nasamu of cover up.

"This peaceful protest is to express our sadness and grievance over the senseless crushing to death of Idowu Pelumi David, an ND1 Public Administration student of the Gateway Polytechnic, Ayepe Annex, by a staff of the National Youth Service Corps in the state.

"We will not sit idly and allow the incident to be swept under the carpet. Lives of the Ogun State students matter. Death is naturally the end of us all, we all agree  but, this careless killing of Idowu Pelumi David, must not go without the perpetrator being brought to book.

"Students in the state strongly believe in the integrity and capability of the Police in the state  to thoroughly investigate the incident and ensure justice is not only done, but seen to be served", Thomas said.

Addressing the protesters, the Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations, Manger Fergus said the Police had already commenced investigation into the death of the student.

He assured the students of justice and urged them to remain peaceful in expressing their grievances.