Angry residents of Itori, Ewekoro Local Government Area of Ogun State, protesting the killing of seven secondary school students by a truck on Wednesday, barricaded the busy Lagos-Abeokuta Expresseway on Thursday, causing gridlock and leaving thousands of commuters and motorists stranded for about five hours.
As early as 7am, protesters blocked the highway with disused tyres and other objects, forcing travellers to make U-turn.
The protesters who chanted war songs, also made bonfire on the expressway.
The Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 2, Mamman Tsafe, had to relocate to the area to ensure that the situation did not degenerate.
On Wednesday, a truck conveying granite, had lost control and rammed into the students of Itori Comprehensive High School, who had just closed from school and were on their way home. Seven of the students died.
Angry residents of the area had gone on the rampage, vandalising vehicles following the tragic incident.
On Thursday, the residents continued their protest against the accident which they alleged had claimed about 17 lives.
Even the presence of riot policemen and officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps could not help the situation as the protesters remained adamant and refused to vacate the highway.
The protesters also refused to heed the appeals of the AIG and the state Commissioner of Police, Ikemefuna Okoye, who were also at the scene of the accident.
Security agents were however compelled to use some force to disperse the protesters who grew restive, eyewitnesses said about 10 people were arrested by the riot policemen drafted to the scene before normalcy returned on the highway.
The Itori Unit Commander of the FRSC, Mr. Fatai Bakare, maintained that only seven students died in the accident while two others were hospitalised.
"Nine people were involved, out of which seven died and two injured," he added.
The FRSC unit commander blamed the accident on the recklessness of the truck driver.
Meanwhile, Governor Ibikunle Amosun paid a sympathy visit to the scene of the accident and some families of the victims.
Amosun, who was in company with the Chairman, Ewekoro Local Government Area, Dele Soluade, said the daughter of his own sister was among the students who died in the accident.
