BY DAUD OLATUNJI
ABEOKUTA—Emotions ran high, yesterday afternoon, when a truck rammed into a school building in Itori, Ewekoro Local Government Area of Ogun State, killing no fewer than 10 students, while 50 vehicles were damaged.
Also, no fewer than nine persons lost their lives in two other separate accidents along Abeokuta-Ibadan and Lagos-Ibadan expressways in Ogun State.
An eyewitness, who was part of the rescue team before the arrival of officers of Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, told Vanguard that it involved students of Itori Comprehensive High School.
According to the source, the students had just closed for the day and were heading for their homes when the truck rammed into them.
Vanguard learnt that the truck, with plate number LAGOS YZ 628 AKD, was said to be coming from Abeokuta, the state capital, when it veered off the median and ran into the students.
Confirming the incident, Itori Sector Commander of FRSC, Mr. Fatai Bakare, however, said only five students were confirmed dead.
He said the driver lost control and veered off the road before it fell on the school pupils.
Vanguard also gathered that the inability of the local government to assist the injured angered the residents and parents of the victims, who then went on rampage.
ACCIDENT: The truck that ran over students of Itori Comprehensive High School, reportedly killing 10 and injuring others, yesterday. PHOTO: Daud Olatunji.
The residents of the area unleashed violence on motorists caught up in the ensuing traffic, vandalising about 50 vehicles.
Meantime, corpses of victims have been taken to the nearby morgue of the local government, while several injured students were reportedly rushed to Ifo General Hospital.
Four on Abeokuta-Ibadan road
According to an eyewitness, four persons died when a Toyota Camry, marked Lagos MUS 948 AR, and a Mazda bus, marked Lagos JP 602 AAA, collided at Olodo village along Abeokuta-Ibadan Expressway.
The source added that sympathisers had to use axes, saws and other sharp objects before the corpses could be freed.
Confirming the accident, Sector Commander of FRSC in Ogun State, Ayobami Omiyale , attributed the crash to dangerous driving and over-speeding.
Five others on Lagos-Ibadan
In another accident, yesterday, five persons lost their lives in an auto crash that occurred at Ogere village, old toll gate, along Lagos-Ibadan expressway.
In another accident, yesterday, five persons lost their lives in an auto crash that occurred at Ogere village, old toll gate, along Lagos-Ibadan expressway.
Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Muyiwa Adejobi confirmed the accident, saying it was caused by a cement-laden truck.
He said the truck fell and blocked the road after Ogere in Remo axis on the way to Ibadan, as against the insinuation that the victims were killed by robbers operating on the road.
Also confirming the incident, Federal Road Commander in Ogere, Mr. Godwin Sangbana, said the accident occurred when an articulated vehicle heading to Ibadan lost control and rammed into three commercial vehicles.
According to him, the corpses were deposited at a nearby hospital.
