The Lagos State Government has shut down Bab Fafunwa Millennium School, formerly named Ojodu Grammar School, in the Ojodu area of the state.
The Lagos State Commissioner for Education, Folashade Adefisayo, announced the closure when she visited the school on Wednesday.
The closure followed the crushing of some students of the school by a trailer on Tuesday on their way from school. Some of the students died on the spot, while some others were injured.
The incident sparked outrage among the students and inhabitants of the area, who set the truck on fire.
It was gathered that early Wednesday morning, students of the school protested the death of their colleagues, alongside some parents of the students.
They lamented that the school was not immediately shut down after the incident happened on Tuesday.
One of the protesters said, “Why should the school reopen. The street still smells of the flesh of dead bodies. The exam should be postponed and students given automatic promotion are possible.”
While weeping, a mother of one of the students lamented that “It is embarrassing that the school reopened today. How will the government do such? What do they want other mothers to be thinking of? My daughter is not in school and I have come to tell them that she must not fail. If they are heartless, I am not.”
Meanwhile, the General Manager of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Bolaji Oreagba, has debunked the allegation that officials of the agency were involved in the unfortunate truck accident.
Oreagba said, “From the reports we received on the incidence, the driver is believed to have lost control of the vehicle, probably because of mechanical reasons. The police are investigating the matter; the public should await their report.
“LASTMA does not have a traffic management duty post around the accident scene. And all patrol personnel had reported back to base for the daily parade as at the time the accident occurred leaving only those at their traffic management posts.”
