By Ola Ajayi I & Daud Olatunji
LAGOS— AT least 10 people died yesterday in two unrelated accidents between Lagos and Ibadan.
LAGOS— AT least 10 people died yesterday in two unrelated accidents between Lagos and Ibadan.
On the Lagos- Ibadan expressway, five people were burnt in a multiple accident involving nine fuel tankers while a building under construction at the site of New Covenant Church, Sagbe, Ojoo in Ibadan collapsed during a downpour, claiming five lives including two women with two others seriously injured on Wednesday night.
Rubble of the church building that collapsed in Ibadan.
It was the prompt response of security men, men of the Federal Road Safety Corps, policemen and other sympathizers that saved the two survivors.
Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State and his wife, Florence visited the scene around 1.30am to give helping hands to those who were trapped under the rubbles.
When Vanguard visited the scene of the incident, all the working implements like head pans, shovel, clothes were seen scattered on the ground.
One of the survivors, Mr Wole Sokunbi said, “we were 13 people working on the building when the rain started and we were waiting under this building to collect our daily allowances from pastor, the foreman. Suddenly the building collapsed. Only pastor, myself and one of the women fetching water for us survived”.
All the corpses and those injured had been taken away from the site.
According to an eyewitness, the workers had finished the day’s work and were waiting for the contractor to come and pay them their wages when the structures caved in suddenly.
He said: “They had finished working for the day. They had cleaned up and were waiting for the contractor. Then, the rain started. It was then they took shelter under the deck. Then, suddenly, we heard a loud bang. Two of them who are Hausas tried to escape but the iron rod held their legs. But, they were quickly rescued and taken to the hospital.”
A member of the church, Mr. Oyegoke Francis described the incident as unfortunate.
Governor Ajimobi blamed the incident on the failure of the contractor handling the church building to use quality materials as well as his (contractor’s) intention to cut cost.
“If the contractor had not compromised quality, this incident would not have happened,” the governor said, regretting that it could happen despite repeated warning that people should ensure quality in everything they were doing, including building construction.
He ordered that thorough investigation be carried out on the circumstances surrounding the collapse of the building.
Five feared dead in Ogun explosion
Also, no fewer than five persons were feared dead early yesterday morning in a multiple accident that occurred at Ibafo, a few kilometers to Redemption Camp, around Danko Village along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway when a tanker loaded with Premium Motor Spirit, petrol, rammed into some trucks parked along the expressway.
An eyewitness told Vanguard that the accident occurred when a tanker with registration number, Kebbi, XB370ZUR rammed into some of the petrol tankers haphazardly parked on the two sides of the express way, leaving several people critically injured.
The tankers were, according to the source, immediately gutted by fire and not less than five people popularly called motor boys were burnt, while it also burnt not less than nine of the tankers.
When Vanguard visited the scene of the accident, there was heavy gridlock leading to the diversion of vehicles to other areas of the road.
It was gathered that, three tankers and seven articulated vehicles were involved in the accident.
Speaking with newsmen on the accident, the Federal Road Safety Corps Sector Commander in Ogun State, Ayobami Omiyale said the accident occurred at about 12 : 30am yesterday, adding that, no fewer than 30 passengers were involved in the accident which claimed two unidentified persons burnt beyond recognition.
He further said that, five people were critically injured in the accident which was caused by dangerous driving, while explaining that, one of the articulated vehicles involved in the accident caught fire which resulted in an inferno that consumed the two victims and some of the vehicles.
He said: “One of the articulated vehicles was trying to navigate between two cars and it lost control before catching fire that led to the accident on the road.”
He however disclosed that the injured were receiving treatment at undisclosed hospitals near the scene.
He also said the burnt bodies had been deposited at the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu.
According to him, the fire was put out by men of the fire service, adding that the FRSC was still making efforts to remove the burnt vehicles and control the traffic congestion that resulted.
As at the time of filing this report, men of Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency were seen moving to the scene of the accident to control traffic and remove the burnt vehicles.
TRACE Unit Commander for Mowe-Ibafo, Olusola Johnson Ojuoro told newsmen that the agency was on ground to clear the accident scene.
