In just four years, 25 lives — mostly students — have been lost at Adekunle Ajasin University’s gate, crushed under the wheels of Dangote trucks. The latest tragedy reignites fury, heartbreak, and a desperate demand for lasting change.
Akungba-Akoko, Ondo State (Nigeria): A haunting pattern of tragedy continues to unfold at the gates of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), where articulated trucks belonging to the Dangote Group have claimed the lives of at least 25 students and residents between 2021 and 2025.
The latest incident occurred on Wednesday, October 21, 2025, when a Dangote truck reportedly suffered brake failure while descending from Ikare. The vehicle rammed through the university’s permanent barricade, killing close to 10 people.
The AAUA Students’ Union, in an official statement, expressed deep sorrow and renewed calls for urgent action.
“We have made several efforts to ensure that trucks stop plying Akungba roads… We remain resolute in this struggle,” said Comr. Ajidagba Mosadoluwa Akinbobola (Mosa Gold), AAUASU Public Relations Officer.
This tragedy echoes the January 23, 2021, disaster — now remembered as the bloodiest day in AAUA history — when a Dangote Cement truck lost control en route from Obajana to Owo and crashed into a shopping complex opposite the university gate.
That crash killed at least 15 people, including Adesomoju Samuel, a 500-level Law student and immediate past Students’ Union President, along with three siblings and several others.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of horror as the truck crushed cyber cafes, food spots, and student hangouts. The university shut down indefinitely, and national outrage followed.
Promises Made, Trust Broken
Following the 2021 crash, Dangote Cement issued a condolence letter and later agreed to a compensation package under pressure from the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS).
This included financial payouts to victims’ families; job offers to qualified relatives, a pledge to immortalise the deceased through a named project and a commitment to repair the Isua–Akungba–Akoko road via tax arrangements.
However, by mid-2023, NANS accused the company of reneging on its promises, especially the memorial project. A 14-day ultimatum was issued, but by 2025, many families still felt neglected.
A Road of Death, A Call for Action
The Akungba highway has become a corridor of grief. Despite repeated warnings, articulated trucks continue to ply the route, endangering lives.
Students and residents have called for a permanent ban on heavy-duty trucks through Akungba, as well as government intervention to enforce traffic restrictions, immediate road repairs, and safety infrastructure.
The Students’ Union has urged students to avoid the highway and remain vigilant. “We are up to the task of maintaining peace and order,” the Union said.
Lives Lost, Voices Rising
The death toll — 25 lives in four years — is more than a statistic. It is a call to conscience. From Sampraise to the unnamed victims of the 2025 crash, the community and students mourn, demand justice, and seek lasting change.
