The death toll in the trailer accident that occurred on Saturday night, in Iworoko, Ifelodun/Irepodun Local Government Area of Ekiti State, has risen to 15 persons.
As gathered, the crash occurred at 8:45p.m after a truck loaded with rice lost control and rammed into a popular market in the heart of the town
Getting crushed in the process were three shops, a mini-commercial bus filled with passengers and traders.
According to an eyewitnesses, part of those who died include a mother, her child, a National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, member, traders and some students of Ekiti State University.
The death toll would have been much if not for the ongoing strike action by the Academic Union of Universities, ASUU, which reduced the rate of EKSU student who usually visit the market.
…at the scene
When journalists visited the scene of the accident yesterday morning, they met a huge crowd of sympathisers wailing and others engaged in quiet conversation.
The towing truck deployed to the scene to remove the trailer was chased away by irate mob.
Deputy Governor of the state, Bisi Egbeyemi, who was at the scene commiserated with families that lost their loved ones and the injured receiving treatment at Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, EKSUTH.
According to her, “the state governor condoles with families of those who have lost dear ones. We pray for their souls to rest in peace. Government will also ensure that those who were injured have their hospital bills paid for.
“However, we appeal to our youths to exercise restraint and calm down by not causing trouble. No one wishes for this kind of tragedy to happen. And no amount of anger and violence will bring back those already dead. So let us be calm.”
Egbeyemi later visited the injured at the emergency ward of EKSUTH and assured the hospital that their bills would be paid by the state government.
12 bodies of those who lost their lives in the accident, including students of EKSU, have been deposited at the state morgue, while four wounded victims of the accident are receiving treatment in the hospital.
The rice owner
The owner of the rice being conveyed by the trailer, Senator Alasoadura (APC Ondo Central), has expressed his condolences to the families of victims.
In a statement by his media aide, Dayo Joseph, he stated that the said rice was purchased from a rice mill in Kebbi State to patronise and encourage local production.
He went on to state that the rice was for his constituents to enjoy Christmas/New year celebrations, but that the delivery was delayed till now.