By Oladele Ogunsola, Ibadan.
Tragedy struck late Monday night at Second Gate, Bola Ige International Market (New Gbagi), along New Ife-Ibadan Express road, Ibadan, Oyo State as passengers and other motorists numbering about 40 were crushed by a trailer out of which about 20 were said to have met their untimely death at the popular bus terminus.
It was gathered that the accident occurred at about 11:40pm, few minutes into the New Year 2019 and no fewer than 15 other victims were said to have sustained varying degrees of injuries.
The ugly incident, which led to heavy traffic congestion and gridlock following which several vehicles leaving Ibadan for Ile-Ife were stranded for several hours was said to have been caused by an oncoming trailer from Iwo road axis which rammed into the commercial buses by the entrance of the market.
Though, reports by the Oyo State Command of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) were conflicting in terms of the number of casualties, both reports, however, confirmed the incident.
While the state Police Command through its spokesperson, Adekunle Ajisebutu, a Superintendent puts the casualty figure at 11 FRSC, through its Oyo State Sector Commander, Mrs. Cecilia Alao claimed that 12 people died as a result of the incident and their corpses were deposited at the morgue of Oyo State Specialist Hospital, Adeoyo.
Detailed report by the FRSC as contained in the ‘Road Traffic Crash Report’, and signed by Mrs. Alao states: “The Command recorded a fatal (multiple) road traffic crash on Monday 31st December 2018 by 2345hrs (1145pm) at KM3 Gbagi, along Ibadan-Ife highway.
“Report of the crash was received by 11.56pm and was responded to accordingly by a detachment of FRSC standby rescue team within 11 minutes of the receipt of the information. Three (3) vehicles with the following details were involved in the crash: 1. DAF 85 trailer, Red Color (No registration), 2. Toyota Camry Salon, Gold Color with registration (KJA672CG) and 3. Toyota Hiace, White Color with registration (MUS171XF).
“A total of Nineteen (19) people were involved in the crash consisting of (10 male adults, 8 female adults and 1 male child). As at the time of conclusion of rescue operations, Nine (9) victims were confirmed dead and their corpses deposited at the morgue of Oyo State Specialist Hospital, Adeoyo while Ten (10) injured victims were conveyed to Toun Specialist Hospital, Iwo road area for medical attention.
“Subsequent hospital follow up conducted by the Command on Tuesday 1st January, 2019 suggests that an additional 3 victims have also died making the total fatality figure twelve (12) consisting of (8 Male Adults 3 Female Adults and 1 Male Child) while 7 injured victims made up of (2 Male Adults and 5 Female Adults) are still on admission receiving treatment.
“Preliminary investigation suggests that brake failure resulting in loss of control is the causative factor of the road traffic crash.
Meanwhile, road obstruction caused by the multiple crash was duly cleared by FRSC personnel at about 0214am on 1st January 2019 thereby ensuring sustenance of smooth traffic flow.
“Whilst it is crucial to commiserate with the families of the deceased and wish the injured quick recovery, it is imperative to state that effective maintenance of vehicle components and general adherence to safety rules is strongly recommended to forestall a recurrence of the unfortunate incident”, the report added.
It was gathered that many of the victims included people going to churches for the cross over night service at Iyana-Agbala and Egbeda Area of the capital city and the situation also made many who were on the way to Churches for the New Year Eve service crossed over into the new year stranded on the highway.
The most bizarre of the incident was the death of a pregnant woman, simply identified as Mrs. Funmilayo who was said to be on her way to visit her in-laws according to her neighbour, Mrs. Iseoluwa Opeyemi.
She explained that the woman popularly called Funmi (Mama Funmilayo) was on her way to her mother in-law’s house at Iyana Agbala area of the state when the incident happened.
According to her, “Mama Funmi was a very hardworking woman. They just moved to their new house last Saturday and she died last night. She came to our house and told us she was going to her mother in-law’s house, not know that she was going to die.
“Her only son was rescued in the crash and is now at hospital. I was there this morning and the boy is recuperating, though his head was partially damaged. I pray the little boy survives this”, she sobbingly said further.
Another eyewitness, Waris Olatunde, who was lucky to have escaped the accident gave account of how, though a bus conductor, he was paid off to prevent his traveling with his loaded bus.
He explained that he was the one that loaded passenger into the bus belonging to his boss, named, ‘Orobo baba welder’ at the spot and when it was about to embark on its journey, a trailer enroute Iwo-road from Ife axis crossed the road and wreaked the havoc.
According to him, “I narrowly escaped the incident because the driver of the vehicle (orobo baba welder) paid me N200 and asked me to go back instead of joining him on the trip. It was only God that saved me. Usually, I used to collect money for him from the passengers before he leaves the park but in this case, he said since it was late already, I should take N200 and leave.
“He told me that he would collect the money himself on the road. The man just closed the side door of the vehicle and before he entered from the driver side, the trailer had crossed to this side and killed everyone in the vehicle. Even a Toyota Camry and Nissan Micra cars were also crushed”, he tearfully added.
