A truck loaded with granites, on Wednesday, lost control and rammed into roadside traders, killing an unknown number of victims and injuring many others at Eleyele Junction, Ibadan, Oyo State.
Most of the victims were said to be petty traders at the Eleyele bus stop.
An eyewitness stated that the truck, coming from the opposite direction, initially hit the group of roadside traders before barreling into a motor park, where it rammed into waiting passengers, leaving many injured.
The 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 people, further complicating the aftermath of the tragedy.
Rescue operations are currently ongoing, and authorities have stated that the exact number of casualties remained unknown as they were working to clear the wreckage.
Emergency responders were focused on removing the truck to prevent additional accidents and to restore normal traffic flow in the area.
The Oyo State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Rosemary Alo, who confirmed the tragic incident, stated that the roadside traders had previously been warned about the dangers of conducting their businesses 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 authorities to enforce a ban on street trading in the vicinity, with the aim to prevent similar incidents in the future.
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