From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja
The Management of Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja, which declared Wednesday 23rd to Friday 25th September, 2020, as Lecture-free days in honour of victims of the inferno caused by the tanker explosion in the early hours of Wednesday, 23rd September, has disclosed its determined to provide succour and support to identified victims immediately the details of such victims are ascertained.
A Statement issued by the Head of Public Relations Unit of the institution, Mrs Uredo Omale which was made available to journalists in Lokoja said the decision was reached at an emergency stakeholders meeting of the institution after the most regrettable incident.
The stakeholders which comprises of the Principal Officers, Deans, Directors, the Chief Security Officer, the Public Relations Officer and Student Union Leaders, also resolved that normal academic activities are to continue on Monday, 28th September, 2020.
The statement also hinted that a Committee has been set up to do a careful and thorough identity check of members of staff and students affected by the inferno with a view to ascertaining the nature and level of damage done to them in terms of deaths or injuries sustained.
The Committee, chaired by the Dean, School of Art, Design and Printing, Mr Pedro Peter Akande, according to the statement had since swung into action affirming that the correct record of deaths and injuries sustained would be made public after the committee’s full inquiries on the development.
“While details of the identities of those affected by ways of death or injuries are yet to be fully ascertained, Management and the entire Polytechnic deeply mourn and sympathise with victims and their families over the sorrowful incident.
“It pledged to will avail members of the public with details of members of staff and students who might have lost their lives or sustained severe injuries as soon as the accurate figures are known with the assistance of the relevant security agencies.
“Once again, the Acting Rector, Dr. Usman Ogbo, the Management and the entire Polytechnic Community deeply commiserate and sympathise with victims and families of those affected by the highly regreatable incident.
“We pray that God, in His infinite mercy, grants the souls of those who lost their lives in the inferno a peaceful repose and wish those who sustained various degrees of injuries speedy recovery” the statement added.
