Sallah tragedy: Road crashes kill 19 in Edo, 2 in Ogun • Angry mob beats policeman to death

It was a black Friday in the ancient town of Ijebu-Igbo, in Ijebu North Local Government Area of Ogun State, as a timber lorry rammed into worshippers at the Atikori Praying Ground for the Eid-el-Kabir festival, leaving two dead and several other worshippers injured.

Also, in Edo State, it was a tragic Sallah eve in Igoneki, Uhunmwonde Local Government Area of Edo State, as about 19 people died in a ghastly motor accident.

In Ogun, Tribune Online learnt that the driver of the lorry lost control of the vehicle conveying timbers before the unfortunate incident happened.

The pandemonium which followed the incident led to an angry mob descending on the driver of the ill-fated vehicle.

Several other Muslim faithful at the Eid ground sustained injuries and were taken to hospital for medical attention.

It was also gathered that the driver of the vehicle had been arrested by the police.

The Ogun State Police Command Public Relations, Abimbola Oyeyemi, had confirmed the incident to Tribune Online when contacted.

Oyeyemi, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, said that two people have been arrested in connection with the incident.

He gave the name of the deceased police officer as Joseph Adejumo, saying that investigation into the ugly incident had since commenced.

The PPRO said, “It is true that an accident occurred this morning at Ijebu Igbo. The truck laden with logs had lost control after its brake failed and rammed into Muslim faithful going to perform Eid prayer in Ijebu Igbo, it killed two people.

“A mob had gathered and wanted to lynch the truck driver but policemen on ground prevented them but they descended on our operatives and one of them was killed.

“We have the truck driver in our custody and two other suspects. The suspects will be charged to court for murder.”

Speaking similarly on the incident, the Public Relations Officer, Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps (TRACE), Babatunde Akinniyi, gave the registration number of the Bedford Truck as OGUN AA 523 JGB.

Similarly, the Edi sad incident, it was gathered occurred at about 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, when a commercial bus with number plate ABD 206 XA collided with a truck carrying livestock.

The road passing through Igoneki had lately served as alternate road for travellers travelling from Benin to other parts of the state such as Ekpoma, Uromi and Auchi following the near total collapse of the Benin-Auchi expressway.

Nine people had last week died in a road accident in Benin City, Edo State.

An eyewitness said that the driver of the commercial bus was in the process of overtaking a vehicle when he ran into oncoming truck that crushed the bus.

16 of the bus passengers were said to have died at the scene of the accident while three others died in the hospital.

At least, four children were said to have died in the bus owned by a popular transport company based in Benin.

It was gathered that the injured and the remains of the deceased were taken to a private clinic in Abudu, in Orhionmwon Local Government Area of the state.

Spokesman for the Edo Sector Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), George Otoaviokhai, confirmed the incident.

Otoaviokhai explained that the bus had attempted to overtake another vehicle in front of it when it rammed into the truck marked DR Z347 XA.

He said: “There was a vehicle in front of the bus when the bus was trying to overtake. The accident was avoidable. He (bus driver) miscalculated; the truck from on its own lane.

“So when he veered off his own track, he just rammed head-on with the truck. It was a fatal crash.”