Ogun Students Protests Dismissal of Arson Case, Demands Justice

The NANS Chairman in the state, Comrade Kehinde Simeon who led a protest to the Motor Traffic Division of the Ogun state Police Command at Ibara in Abeokuta on Thursday accused the State Traffic Officer (STO), SP Christiana Opagoro of conniving with the truck owners to dismiss the arson case reported at the station.

The NANS Chairman explained that, on April 9, 2022, the victim, Kareem Adebisi alongside three other occupants were driving in a 2009 model of Toyota camry XLE car with registration number BDJ 191 GG along Kobape, Abeokuta when they were hit from behind by unknown truck.

Simeon explained further that, the vehicle driver and the occupants of the vehicle veered off the road and made a safe landing in the bush.

He said, in the process, the truck driver lost control and stretched off the road.

He stressed that, the students who escaped from the accident unhurt, immediately reported the case at Ibara MTD office and an officer accompanied them to the accident scene.

Simeon said on getting to the scene, a mob of other truck drivers who had besieged the scene attempted to attack the students and the Inspection Police officer.

He said the officer thereafter inspected the scene and took photograph of the truck and the damaged car with no casualty, while the truck driver had fled the scene.

He, however, expressed disappointment that the following day while, when the students went to the accident scene to tow their vehicle back to Abeokuta, they discovered that the vehicle had been burnt to ashes allegedly by the truck drivers.

He added that, the students therefore, went to the Ibara MTD to report the latest development.

According to him, the STO assured them of inviting the truck owner and association leaders in order identify the driver and those behind the burnt car.

He, however, expressed disappointment that on getting to the station, the traffic officer had changed the narrative with a claim that the driver of the truck is dead and has been buried immediately.

Simeon accused the STO of compromise, demanding Justice on the burnt car and hospital bill of the affected students.

"On 9th April, our colleagues coming from a wedding was hit by a truck behind and pushed to the bush. Immediately we came to MTD to invite officers to the scene. And that night the officer went to the scene and took proper investigation and details of the incident. Immediately, some members of the truck owners came with a threat to attack the student and IPO. We left the scene that night. But the following day, we discovered that the angry truck owners burnt our car with a claim that the truck driver and motor boy died and have been buried hurriedly without police involvement.

"We had a hit from the back and our car swerve to the bush. Immediately we came to the MTD to report before going to the hospital. But the following day, we got there, they have burnt the car. They burgled the car and carted away some.valuables including iPhone 13, car battery, and cash of N4,600.

"We also came to the police station to report of the car has been burnt, and they immediately called the truck owner.

"We demand justice in the next 48hours and provide another car to our Comrade, or, else, we will shut down the state. The STO has sabotaged the case. She is trying to trample upon the right of Nigerian students."