Olufemi Atoyebi, Ibadan
Four persons were killed in Oja Oba Market in Ibadan, Oyo State, on Tuesday after the driver of a truck with number plate, AGL 883 XQ, lost control of the truck and rammed into vehicles and the victims.
Several other people were said to have sustained varying degrees of injury in the accident.
An unidentified woman and her two children were crushed to death in the accident, which occurred around 8am as traders at the market were opening shops.
Another man, who was an engineer with the Ibadan Properties, Mr. Monsur Ajedayo, was also killed.
The victims were said to be among those waiting by the Oja Oba/Molete roadside to board vehicles.
Most of those injured were operators of commercial tricycles that had converted a part of the Mapo-Molete dual carriageway to a park.
About four of the tricycles were mangled by the impact of the collision with one of them burnt by ensuing fire.
A relative of Ajedayo, who did not give his name, said his late cousin was waiting for a taxi when he met his untimely death.
Eyewitnesses told our correspondent that the articulated vehicle ran into a taxi with number plate, GGE 235 DR, and at least five commercial tricycles, injuring some of the occupants.
Another eyewitness, Fola Omidiran, said she escaped being crushed by the truck.
She said, “The truck skidded off the road suddenly, killing a woman and her two children immediately. It also injured many others. From what we heard, the truck had a brake failure.”
A tricycle operator, Yanis Lukman, said more people would have died if the market had opened fully.
It was gathered that the corpses of those who died in the accident had been taken to the Adeoyo State Hospital’s morgue, while the injured persons were said to be receiving treatment at the hospital and the University College Hospital, Ibadan.
The Public Relations Officer of the Oyo State Police Command, Adekunle Ajisebutu, said, “The police are aware of the accident. Four people died. Their corpses have been deposited at the Adeoyo State Hospital’s morgue.
“Three victims were injured and have been taken to the UCH for medical treatment. The driver of the vehicle has been arrested. Investigation has started.”
