Refuse truck driver kills okada rider, passenger in Oyo

An okada rider and his passenger were crushed to death in Ibadan, Oyo State after a refuse disposal truck driver ran over them along Ijokodo-Apete road at about 4.30p.m on Friday.

The incident which occurred very close to the gate of The Polytechnic, Ibadan which links Apete community, involved a truck with registration number V489 DEF and a Bajaj motorcycle with registration number KNR 890 QD.

The okada rider was identified as Christopher Osadolor, from Delta State and the passenger, a young mother of one, was named Bose Abodurin. Both reportedly died on the spot.

Information gathered by Crime Reports had it that the okada rider and his passenger were going out of Apete community while the truck driver, one Saheed Lateef, was taking refuse to a dumpsite along Apete-Akufo road when the accident happened.

A reliable source said that the driver claimed that he had brake failure.

Immediately it was noticed that the two people had died, the mob reportedly descended on the driver and almost lynched him to death.

But Sunday Tribune learnt that immediately the Divisional Police Officer, Apete Division, SP Godwin Mba, heard about the accident, he rushed there with his men, rescued the driver and took him to the station in protective custody.

The driver was later taken to hospital for medical treatment, it was further gathered.

But the mob was not yet done as it was reported to have set the truck ablaze before the return of policemen to the scene.

Though the DPO was said to have called the fire service from Agbowo Fire Station in Ibadan to the scene, the truck had been burnt beyond salvage, while its ruins were still at the spot of accident as of the time of filing this report.

Confirming the incident, the Oyo State Police Public Relations Officer, Adekunle Ajisebutu, a Superintendent of Police, told Crime Reports that the remains of the victims had been deposited in the mortuary at Adeoyo State Hospital, Yemetu, Ibadan.