No fewer than six people were feared dead, while six
others were critically
injured after a tipper driver rammed into roadside
traders at old Ota Toll
Gate in Ogun State.
Punch Metro learnt that the accident, which happened
around 11am on
Thursday, was caused by brake failure.
Eyewitnesses said the sand-filled tipper marked
STOCKINGER STEYR and
with number plate JJJ 551 XB, ran into the traders who
were selling pepper, oil and bread among others.
An eyewitness said, “The incident happened around
11am. The tipper was
coming from Lagos when it had a brake failure.
“As the driver struggled with the vehicle, the vehicle
veered off the road and rammed into the traders.
“It was not a beautiful sight; the tipper was climbing
over the women, men and children selling bread, pepper
and other wares by the roadside. Those buying too were
not spared.”
He said the driver of the vehicle immediately fled to
avoid mob attack.
Our correspondent observed that the area was
covered with blood stains, and smashed wares.
As tears flowed, the residents of the area and other
sympathizers started making frantic efforts to take
some of the victims to hospitals.
The police and officials of the Federal Road Safety
Corps and the Ogun State Traffic Compliance
Enforcement Corps later arrived at the scene.
The FRSC Ota unit Commander, Mr. Sunday Omafu, said
two people died in
the incident, while seven others were critically injured.
He said one of the dead was an official of NUPENG, while
the second victim was a woman buying pepper for a
naming ceremony.
He said, “These two people have been identified by their
relatives and taken to the Ifo General Hospital mortuary.
The rest who are in critical condition have been taken
to the Sango General Hospital for treatment.”
He said that the tragedy was caused by disobedience to
the state’s traffic rules, adding that the corps would
continue to organise sensitisation programmes for
members of the public.
He said, “We have always advised that they should not
be selling at the toll gate because it is dangerous. We
have been driving away okada riders from the road, but
they keep returning because they think you don’t want
them to make money. We hope to increase our
enlightenment programme because this period of the
year can be challenging.”
Omafu added that the tipper had been towed to the
premises of the Ota Area Command of the Nigeria
Police.
The spokesman for the state police command, DSP
Muyiwa Adejobi,
however, said three people died, while four were injured.
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