Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Tension erupted in Ijebu‑Jesa, Osun State, on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, after a confrontation between police officers and students of Interlink College of Health Technology following the tragic death of a fellow student in a road accident. The victim, identified as Oluwaseun, a National Diploma II student in Mass Communication, was reportedly riding a motorcycle back to Ijebu‑Jesa when a bus struck him on the Ijebu‑Jesa/Esa‑Oke Road. The impact was severe, and despite desperate attempts to revive him, he died shortly after the crash.
Video footage obtained by PUNCH Metro showed distraught students confronting police officers at the scene, demanding that the bus driver involved in the incident be handed over to them. An anonymous source at the scene told reporters that the students became furious after learning that their peer had died despite efforts to save him. “Students rushed to the scene and insisted that the driver be given to them. While this was happening, police officers who arrived after the distress call requested that the vehicle be taken to the station for further investigation,” the source explained.
The confrontation escalated when some students attempted to set the bus on fire, prompting police to discharge tear gas canisters into the air to disperse the crowd. “The use of tear gas caused panic in the vicinity. The deceased was returning from Ilesa when the accident occurred. Although attempts were made to save him, he passed away. His fellow students later protested around the town, but order has since been restored,” the source added. The violence of the confrontation left several students with breathing difficulties, and the scene descended into chaos as pedestrians and shop owners fled for safety.
When reached for comment, the Osun State Police Command spokesperson, Abiodun Ojelabi, confirmed the incident but noted that the identity of the deceased had not been fully verified at the time of his report. He stated that peace had been restored to the area following police intervention. The police maintained that the use of tear gas was necessary to prevent the destruction of property and further violence, as the mob had already set part of the bus on fire. The driver, whose identity has not been released, was taken into protective custody by police and is being held for questioning.
The death of Oluwaseun has sent shockwaves through the student community. According to classmates, he was a vibrant and dedicated student known for his passion for journalism and his friendly disposition. He was reportedly returning from Ilesa, where he had gone to attend to personal matters, when the accident occurred. Fellow students described him as the “life of the department” and said his sudden death has left a void that will be hard to fill. A candlelight procession was held on Wednesday night, with students calling for justice and safer roads.
In response to the tragedy and the ensuing unrest, the management of Interlink College of Health Technology has declared a temporary closure of the school. In a statement signed by Mr. L. Balogun on behalf of the Registrar, the management indicated that the closure was to allow the school community to grieve and to honour the memory of the deceased student. “Students are encouraged to remain calm and pray during this challenging time. Academic activities will resume on Tuesday, May 19, 2026,” the statement concluded. The management also promised to cooperate with the police in their investigation and to provide counselling services for students affected by the incident.
The clash between students and police highlights the growing tension between Nigerian youth and law enforcement, particularly in cases where students feel that justice is being delayed or denied. The students’ demand to have the driver handed over to them, though illegal, reflects a deep‑seated frustration with the speed and transparency of the justice system. Many Nigerians have lost faith in the ability of the police to hold road traffic offenders accountable, and this incident is likely to fuel further debate about police conduct and road safety.
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has also launched an investigation into the accident. Preliminary reports indicate that excessive speeding may have been a factor, but a full investigation will be required to determine liability. The FRSC has urged motorists to exercise caution on the Ijebu‑Jesa/Esa‑Oke Road, which has been the site of several fatal accidents in recent years.
For now, the students of Interlink College of Health Technology are in mourning. The campus is quiet, the classrooms empty, and the corridors echo with the memory of a young man who left for Ilesa and never came back. The teargas has dispersed, but the anger has not. The driver is in police custody, but the question on every student’s lips remains unanswered: why did it take the threat of a burning bus to get the police to act? As the school reopens on Tuesday, the students will return to their studies, but they will not forget. And neither, they hope, will the authorities.
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