Tragedy: Five Children Crushed To Death In Auto Crash

No fewer than five children were feared dead and two others reportedly injured following an auto crash involving a Toyota Camry and a Hiace bus along the old Jebba Road, Ilorin, Kwara State, on Tuesday night. 

The accident, which was said to have occurred about 9.30pm, involved seven children from Elekoyangan and Anfeyin communities. They were said to be walking by the roadside before the accident.

It was learnt on Wednesday that the driver of the Camry, whose name could not be ascertained, had left a hotel along Kwara Polytechnic-University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital Road. He suddenly lost control of the vehicle, collided with the bus, which was parked by the side of the road, and rammed unto the seven children.

Five of them reportedly died while the remaining two were taken to the UITH, where they were said to be receiving treatment.

A member of one of the communities, Mallam Isiaka Rahman, identified the five children that were feared dead as Abdulfatai, Sodiq, Fatai, Jamiu, and Jamiu. He also stated that the two surviving victims were Shola and Gafar.

Aggrieved members of the communities were said to have consequently staged a protest to register their grief, but were later dispersed by the police.

The protests reportedly paralysed academic activities at nearby schools in the area.

It was gathered that the Camry was set ablaze, while bonfires were made along the road during the protest.

The driver of the car and two other occupants were said to have fled from the accident scene before the mob could descend on them.

Rahman, said, “It was a sad incident that befell us. Our children; Abdulfatai, Sodiq, Fatai Kososi, Jamiu Mogaji, and Jamiu were killed in a motor accident while Shola and Gafar are in a state of coma in the hospital.”

The Kwara State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Agboola Glover-Oshodi, confirmed the accident.

He said normalcy had returned to the area. He appealed to the residents to maintain the peace.

Punch