Tragedy struck in Odeomu, Ayedaade Local Government Area of Osun State on Friday when a truck lost control, veered off the Osogbo-Ibadan Highway and crushed three pupils and two adults to death.

Our correspondent gathered that the accident, which occurred during the Jumat service at the Central Mosque, Odeomu, claimed the life of one of the Islamic clerics, Ismail Babalola, who was about entering the mosque.

Apart from the two adults killed, two others were reportedly injured as worshippers fled to escape being crushed to death. The truck was eventually brought to a halt when it hit a ditch and the perimeter fence of the mosque.

Residents of the town told our correspondent, who visited the scene of the accident on Saturday, that the driver of the truck immediately fled the scene having seen that he had killed some persons.

It was gathered that two of the pupils killed came third in their promotion examinations and were going to the mosque for the Jumat service when the accident claimed their lives.

The atmosphere at the house of one of the deceased, five-year-old Abdurasak Olodo, was tense. Sympathisers thronged the place to commiserate with the parents of the pupil.

The mother was still in shock when our correspondent visited the house. She was surrounded by a horde of sympathisers – friends and relatives – at her bedside.

The father of the pupil, Mr. Teslim Olodo, said he had taken the tragedy which befell his family as the will of Allah, who he said could not be questioned.

He appealed to the government to erect speed breakers on the highway from Obada Market to the outskirt of the town, saying such accident was a regular occurrence on the road which links the town with Osogbo and Ibadan.

He said, “We cannot question God for allowing the accident to happen. Abdurasak has been buried. He was buried yesterday (Friday). But we want the government to take concrete steps to stop this kind of accident by erecting bumps on the road. This will reduce the speed of vehicles.”

One of the friends of the deceased’s father, Mr. Abdulfatah Azeez, also called on the state government and others to assist Abudlrasak’s grandmother, who was injured in the accident.

He said, “Abdukrasak’s grandma (Bilikis Olodo) was also injured. She had taken Abdulrasak and others to the mosque for Jumat service when the accident happened. It is sad but we cannot question God. She is at a hospital now and her condition is critical. We don’t want to lose her too; that is why we want the government and the good people of Nigeria to help her in any way they can.

Irate youths in the town prevented the police from towing away the truck when policemen made an attempt to remove the vehicle from the scene on Saturday.

The policemen, who were led by Mr. Akinropo Oluboye, were stopped by the youths, who threatened to burn down the vehicle should the policemen try to remove the truck by force.

The Chief Imam of Odeomu Central Mosque, Alhaji Adeyefa Adefajo, appealed to the youths not to set the truck ablaze. He said he was also saddened by the accident but there was nothing he could do about it.

Adefajo also appealed to the state government to quickly erect bumps on the road to stop reckless drivers from speeding.

 

Source: Punchng.com

Picture Credit: Tribuneonlineng.com

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