No fewer than thirty eight persons involving mostly traders and travellers died during the weekend in multiple accidents in Imo and Osun states?
The Imo incident which also involved traders occurred as truck crashes into Imo market.
Reports revealed that no fewer than 30 women lost their lives iwhen a truck lost its brake and rammed into roadside traders at Nkwommiri market in Nwangele, Imo State, on Saturday, an eye witness said.
According to the source, the incident, which occurred around 12 noon at the Anara- Orlu expressway, where the market is situated, left many injured.
Our correspondent gathered that the truck was attempting to climb the hilly road when its brake failed and crushed the women as well as other vehicles on the roadside.
A youth leader from the community identified as Adolphus told our correspondent that the accident was so severe that some of the victims were also tossed into a nearby river.
“The worst has happened here. A truck that lost its brakes has killed women trading on the road at Nkwommiri, and it looks like more are even injured and some trapped under the vehicle,” he said.
A community leader, Frank Ozuruigbo, gave the assurance that the community is working with government official to rescue the trapped victims.
When contacted, the police spokesman Orlando Ikeokwu said that rescue operation was ongoing but confirmed the death of only two women.
In another development,eight persons also lost their lives in an accident in Osogbo, Osun State capital on Saturday as a truck loaded with traders and palm oil somersaulted while ascending a bridge.
Source who confirmed the incident to NPOreports said the truck, which was coming from Gbongan towards Osogbo around 1:30 am, attempted to join the Oba Adesoji Aderemi intersection at November 27 interchange, the truck while accelerating onto the bridge slid backward.
The source said the driver, Babawale Adigun, eventually lost control of the truck and it somersaulted into the side drainage.
“The people in the truck were sleeping when it fell off the road and the palm oil gallon fell on them after they had fallen into the drainage.
“Unfortunately because of the timing of the accident there were only a few people to help those pinned down by the gallons filled with palm oil”, he said.
Confirming the incident, the Federal Road Safety Corps spokesperson in Osun, Agnes Ogungbemi, said 61 persons were involved in the accident, saying eight of them died on the spot while 36 were injured.
“The Volvo truck with registration number KMC 35 ZJ was heavily loaded with Jerry cans of palm oil and over 60 passengers.
“The driver was trying to ascend the ramp but started rolling backward and lost control. It fell sideways into the side drainage, throwing off the jerry cans over the passengers and killed some in the process.
“Meanwhile, the injured victims were taken to Osun State University Teaching Hospital and Specialist Hospital, Osogbo while the dead victims were taken to the mortuary”, she said.
