A truck fully loaded with granite has on Wednesday claimed lives of some suspected road side traders at Eleyele Junction of Ibadan Metroplis.
The accident claimed lives of unconfirmed number of lives believed to be road side traders that used to displayed their wares and petty markets at the Eleyele bus stop, while many were seriously injured.
The development according to an eyewitness said a truck loaded with granite lost control and crashed into a nearby park garage.
The eyewitness accounts stated that the truck, coming from the opposite direction, initially struck a group of roadside traders before barreling into the garage, where it struck waiting passengers, leaving many injured.
An anonymous eyewitness described the chaotic scene, emphasising the devastation and panic that ensued. The driver of the truck fled the scene in an attempt to avoid being mobbed by onlookers, further complicating the aftermath of the tragedy.
Rescue operations are currently ongoing, and authorities have stated that the exact number of casualties remains unknown as they work to clear the wreckage.
Emergency responders are focused on removing the truck to prevent additional accidents and to restore normal traffic flow in the area.
In a telephone interview, Rosemary Alo, the Oyo State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, confirmed the tragic incident.
She stated that the roadside traders had previously been warned about the dangers of conducting business in the area.
“If they had heeded these warnings, we could have potentially reduced the number of casualties,” she remarked.
Alo also indicated that efforts would be intensified in collaboration with the local government chairman to enforce a ban on street trading in the vicinity, aiming to prevent similar incidents in the future.