Pandemonium As Correctional Service Vehicle Rams Into Okada Riders In Kwara
Pandemonium broke out at the Oja Oba area of Ilorin in Ilorin West Local Government area of Kwara state on Thursday morning following an accident involving a Hilux Van belonging to the Federal Correctional Service and some commercial motorcyclists known as Okada riders.
The accident reportedly left four people dead while two others were injured.
The accident was reported to have happened at about 8:40 am when one of the correctional service vehicles rammed into some Okada riders at the Isale Oja roundabout while conveying the inmates to the court.
As a result of the accident, the people in the area began a protest during which one of the vehicles in the convoy was vandalised while the inmates in the vehicle were quickly evacuated by the police and kept at the police station ‘C’ division, Oja Oba, for safety.
Though the people in the area alleged that four people were killed in the accident, the Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Frederick Ade Ogidan, who confirmed the incident said that no life was lost in the accident, adding that the victims were critically injured and were receiving treatment in the hospital.
As a result of the confusion, security men drawn from the police and the state service were drafted to the area and condoned off the areas around the palace of the Emir of Ilorin and blocked the roads leading to Oja Oba, Isale Oja, Idi Ape and Ago Markets.
“The incident happened this morning at a roundabout in the Oja Oba area when one of the vehicles of the Federal Correctional Service and some Motorcyclists collided. Four people were involved and were seriously injured and have been taken to the hospital for treatment, none of them has died as I’m speaking now. They are being treated in the hospital and they are responding to treatment.
“The accident was caused by over-speeding and refusal by some road users to give those who are on emergency the right to pass,” Ogidan stated.
Ogidan, however, advised the people to always give vehicles that are on emergency services the chance to pass when driving on the road.
The spokesperson for Kwara police command, SP Okasanmi Ajayi, also confirmed the incident saying that six people were involved and were receiving treatment in the hospital.
He said, “Two out of the six people have been treated and discharged from the hospital while four are still recovering.”
The PPRO said that the police had restored peace to the area.
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