By Uche Amunike
Multiple deaths have been recorded, as nine people, including a pregnant woman, lost their lives as their vehicle got burnt beyond repair in the Ilorin fatal accident that took place along the Ilorin-Ogbomosho expressway, Sunday.
The unfortunate incident took place when an ash-coloured Toyota Corolla with registration number LRN787FE had a head-on collision with a white-coloured commercial Toyota Hiace bus, enroute to Lagos, as it was riding out of the Ilorin International Airport, unavoidably leading to the Ilorin fatal accident.
According to eyewitness reports, the victims of the Ilorin fatal accident went through the horrific ordeal of being burnt beyond recognition because gallons of fuel were loaded inside the 18-seater passenger bus which triggered the fire after the impact of the accident.
Sources in the Kwara State Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), stated that the said 18-seater passenger bus was heading to Lagos after loading passengers at the Gerin Alimi Motor Park and was driving out of the metropolis when it had a head-on with the private car.
The source narrated: ‘The private vehicle failed to wait for the oncoming passenger bus to pass’.
‘The vehicles somersaulted and had tyre burst before they burst into flames. A pregnant woman was among the victims’, he said.
On his part, the Kwara State Sector Commander of the FRSC, Jonathan Owoade described the Ilorin fatal accident as unfortunate, while he confirmed it to be true in a phone conversation our reporter.
Hear him: ‘A total number of 20 persons were involved in the accident but nine of them were killed and 8 suffered burns, bruises and open wounds among other varying degrees of injuries’.
‘Before we got to the scene, the injured victims had been taken to the Ilorin General Hospital while the dead bodies were deposited at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH) morgue, Oke-Oyi,” he added.
The kwara State government, on their part, has also stated that they will join hands with some Federal government agencies to introduce speed breakers on the Ilorin-Ogbomosho Highway.
This was disclosed in a statement on Sunday evening by the State Commissioner for Works and Transport, Engineer Rotimi Iliasu, who assured that the speed breaker would prevent and reduce reckless driving and over speeding by drivers on the road.
Hear him: ‘In conjunction with the Federal Road Safety Corps and the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, we would have speed bumps introduced and some of the u-turns adjusted to regulate speed and curb the occurrence of such accidents in the future.’
Welcome commiserating with the victims of the Ilorin fatal accident, Iliasu expressed the sadness that the government felt over the numerous lives that were lost, including that of a pregnant woman.
His words: ‘Once again, we were all utterly shocked and dismayed at the terrible loss and the excruciating pain that follows. Our hearts go all out to the affected families at this mournful period, May God Almighty comfort you and ease your pain”, the commissioner said.
