BENIN CITY- Students of the University of Benin, UNIBEN, yesterday protested over the death of two of their colleagues who ‎were knocked down by a patrol vehicle belonging to the Nigerian Army.

It was gathered that the two female students, identified as Rita Awele, and Efe, were on their way from a Catholic chaplaincy located within the school, when the patrol vehicle knocked them down about 10.30am last Sunday.

‎It was learnt that the victims, who were both 200 level students of the Department of Philosophy, died in spite of efforts to provide them with medical attention.

While 20-year-old Rita died few hours after the fatal accident, Efe was said to have died on Monday evening, at the Central Hospital on Sapele Road, Benin City.

It was learnt that the protest started about 6:32am leaving motorists and travellers stranded for several hours it lasted.

‎The aggrieved students lamented that several similar ugly cases have been recorded on the expressway close to the university’s main gate at Ugbowo Campus.

They attributed the accident to the recklessness on the part of some motorists and the absence of speed breakers.

The students also decried the absence of a befitting pedestrian bridge around the institution, after the old one was removed.

The Director of Sports for the Students Union Government, UNIBEN, ‎John Ogedengbe stated that “There should be proper compensation for the families of the deceased and the army officer involved should be properly dealt with‎. The Commandant promised us that they get to see the parents and they will take care of the logistics and they told us that the army officer involved was locked. But we are not sure of their statement because we demanded an audience but they refused.”

Contacted, the Public Relations Officer, 4 brigades, Nigeria Army, Benin City Captain Jonah Unuakhalu, said that ‎the command had commenced an investigation to ascertain the “actual cause of the accident” while efforts were being made to reach the families of the victims.

“On Sunday morning at about 8.30am there was a road traffic accident involving Operation Pulo Shield Vehicle driven by a soldier that knocked down two females who were confirmed to be students of University of Benin. They were, however evacuated to a nearby hospital where one was confirmed dead, while the other student is responding to treatment.

“Efforts are being made by the command to reach the university authority and families of the two students involved in the accident and also to further dialogue with the Students Union Government to avert the protest but the students insisted on speaking with government officials. It is advisable that the students should keep calm as the command is looking into the issue.”

Also, the spokesperson for the university, Michael Osasuyi, who confirmed that the school had made contacts with the army.

“The management is talking to them now to remain calm and abide by the rules and regulations and channel their grievances appropriately so as not to disrupt the peace. They are calling on the federal government to provide a flyover so that students are not knocked down on the highway.

“‎When it (accident) happened, the military personnel took responsibility. One of the students is responding to treatment. The military displayed a high level of responsibility to ensure that the situation is brought under control; management still appeals to students to keep calm and allow peace to reign.” Mr. Osasuyi stated.