Ondo govt denies involvement of Niger Delta delegates in road accident

THE Ondo State government on Wednesday said none of the delegates who attended the Town hall meeting of the second National Council on Niger Delta in Igbokoda, Ilaje Local Government area, died in an auto crash.

The state government denied this in a statement issued and signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the State governor, Segun Ajiboye, said those involved in the accident were not members of the Niger Delta delegates.

He said “Contrary to a report in the media that some delegates heading for the Town hall meeting of the second National Council on Niger Delta in Igbokoda, Ilaje Local Government area, hosted by the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs in collaboration with the government, died in an auto crash along the Okitipupa-Ore Road, the Ondo State government wishes to clear air on the incident.

“The Ondo State government wishes to state that none of the delegates who attended the town hall meeting was involved in the auto crash.”

Ajiboye said further “According to police report, there was an auto crash in which a 42-year-old mother of five, Rukayat Teniola, from Onipakala in Ondo State, who was traveling for a private business, lost her life.

“Four other passengers, who were injured in the crash, were rushed to the hospital, and three of them have already been discharged.

“Three vehicles, namely a Golf passenger car with registration number AG 12 REE, allegedly overloaded with six passengers traveling from Ore to Okitipupa, a Dyna truck with registration number AKR 890 SA and a Mercedes lorry travelling from Okitipupa to Ore, were involved in the fatal crash.

“The state government, while condoling with the family of the dead woman, wishes to state categorically that none of the delegates and other participants in the town hall meeting were involved in the reported auto crash.”