Pregnant Woman, Nine Others Killed As Dangote Trailer Loses Control
•By Admin
AKURE – Ten people, including a pregnant woman, have been confirmed dead as a trailer, fully loaded with bags of cement, belonging to Dangote Cement rammed into shops Owo-Akungba- Ikare Akoko Road on Wednesday night.
Eyewitness account had it that the driver of the trailer lost control of the vehicle after he rammed into the barricade erected along the road to prevent accident.
He disclosed that the body of a pregnant woman, who was trapped under the trailer, was draged out by the rescue team who rushed to the scene of the accident.
The eyewitness explained that ” The driver lost control of the truck and swerved off the road and rammed into the shops along the road killing the victims.”
In the account of another eyewitness, “The truck was coming from up, we couldn’t say if the barricade was opened, because some people said the trailer destroyed the barricade. Like five people have died while we don’t know how many are under the trailer now.”
Confirming the incident, the Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Samuel Ibitoye, stated that the accident involved a truck which was loaded with bags of cement.
He said: ” The incident involved a truck which ran into a barricade In front of the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko and lost control resulting in the crash.
“No fewer than eight people were killed , comprising five males, two females and one male child.”
Reacting to the incident, the Public Relations Officer of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko Students Union, Ajidagba Akinbobola lamented the loss of lives to the accident despite the barricade erected by the state government to prevent such occurrence.
The statement reads: “We regret to inform the entirety of the students populace that an articulated vehicle belonging to Dangote group of company suffered a break failure from Ikare enroute to Akungba has destroyed by accident the permanent barricade erected at the university main gate.
“As it stands, close to 10 persons have lost their lives due to this tragic incident.
As we all can recollect the Students’ Union has made several efforts to ensure that trucks stop plying akungba roads as it can cause danger to the lives and properties of our students.
“We still remain resolute in the assurance of this struggle.
We implore all students to remain and fearless as we are up to the task of maintaining peace and order within the students community and as well to stay away from the highway for the time being.”
However, the Sector Commander said the remains of the casualties of the accident have been deposited at the morgue of a hospital in the town.
He, therefore, advised motorists to always ensure that their vehicles were in good condition before hitting the road.
Motorists were also advised to always obey the traffic rules and regulations while driving.
•INDEPENDENTNG.