30 Die in Ijebu Ode multiple accident

30 persons were killed while several others were critically injured yesterday at the ever-busy Mabolufon Junction, Ijebu-Ode in Ogun State stretch of the Lagos-Ore Expressway when a truck ran over them.

According to an eyewitness, the victims, who were mostly roadside traders and commuters waiting to board vehicles going to Lagos were said to have been run over by the truck bearing flower after it had rammed into a passenger bus believed to be going to Lagos State from Ondo.

As at the time of filing this report at about 7pm yesterday, the remains of seven persons including a pregnant woman, were deposited at the morgue of the state hospital, Ijebu Ode, while the medics were battling to save the lives of over 20 persons said to be critically injured.

Officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), police and the Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency (TRACE) were sighted at the scene evacuating both the dead and the injured to hospitals within Ijebu Ode and the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu.

There were conflicting reports about the casualty figures. While the Zonal Commander, Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency (TRACE), Tommy Hamzat, said about 30 people were killed, the Sector Commander of FRSC in Ogun State, Ayobami Omiyale told Daily Sun on phone that, although his team was involved in the rescue operation, about 20 people died.

Confirming the incident, Ogun State Police Command Public Relations Officer, Mr. Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said the accident was caused by a trailer coming from Ikorodu at a time a truck and unmarked bullion van coming from Lagos were already at close range by the Mabolufon Junction. Adejobi further said in a bid by the truck coming from Lagos to avoid ramming into the one from Ikorodu, it swerved and ran into people standing by the roadside.

He added that the driver of one the trucks, Mr. Adebayo Adedayo, had been arrested while the youths of Mabolufon community acting on the supposition that the police caused the accident, attempted to mob police officers from the Obalende Division, who were despatched to the scene. According to him, the police had no hand in the series of action that led to the accident.