Abeokuta - Emotions still run high, as Wednesday
afternoon 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.
An eyewitness, who was part of the rescue team before the
arrival of officers of Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC,
says the accident involves 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.
The truck (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.
The inability of the local government to assist the injured
angered the residents and parents of the victims, who then
went on rampage. The residents of the area unleashed
violence on motorists caught up in the ensuing traffic, who
abandoned their vehicles in a bid to escape the melee. The
vehicles, numbering up to 50, were thereafter vandalised.
Some of the protesters also complained about the late
arrival of the security and rescue officials to the accident
scene. Many motorists plying the road, located along the
old Abeokuta-Lagos road, could not hold back tears on
arriving at the scene.
The development prompted the Police to call for the services
of an Amoured Personnel Carrier, APC, belonging to the
Ogun State Command to restore order preparatory to the
evacuation of victims.
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.
by ROTMANLUV 2023-07-08, 17:34
