FRSC rescues 7, denies causing accident
It was a Black Tuesday in the Ojodu-Berger area of Lagos state when a trailer collided with school students during the afternoon hours, crushing 20 of them to death.
The students were reported to be from Omole Primary School and Babs Fafunwa Secondary School. Among the feared dead were three students of the same parents.
In reaction, students from nearby high schools blocked the road and chased the trailer to Ogba, where the driver was caught and the trailer allegedly set on fire.
Sources said the accident happened around 2:00 pm at the high school bus stop as the students, who had just finished their exam for the day, were going home to us.
Residents, especially motorists and shopkeepers, who witnessed the accident were unable to control their emotions, as the mangled bodies of the students in their blood-stained uniforms littered the bus stop.
According to sources, the truck driver was chased by an official from the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) before killing the students.
Another account said that they were the vehicle inspection officers (VIO), who were chasing the truck driver before he collided with the students.
Enraged by the accidents, the youths took to the road and blocked the road, causing chaos.
But a witness, Temitope Ibidun, who arrived at the scene immediately after the accident, said that the white van that came from Berger was allegedly being pursued by policemen and in the process of escaping it lost control and rammed the students waiting to board the vehicles. vehicles home.
She said, “From their uniforms, they are students from Ojodu Primary School and Babs Fafunwa Secondary School.
At least, I counted about 20 students who have been crushed and several more injured.
“Seeing their shattered bodies will bring tears to the eyes of those who witnessed the scene, it was a bloody sight to behold.
“In the initial stage, before arriving on the scene, I saw two students carrying one of their classmates soaked in blood, I still wondered what would have happened to him when they had teachers in their school before seeing the scene later. . It was a bloody sight to behold. ”
Ibidun said that the incident caused a serious traffic jam in and out of Ojodu, as the bodies covered the Berger-Ogba highway, as the flow of traffic was paralyzed. “I walked from the place to Ogba since there was no movement of vehicles. It was when I arrived in Ogba that we learned that the fleeing truck had been stopped in front of the Excellence Hotel.
Meanwhile, sanity has returned to the Ogunnusi, Ojodu road, as the security agencies have taken over the situation.
Lagos police public relations officer Adekunle Ajisebutu, who confirmed the accident, said security agencies are aware of the situation.
“There are adequate police officers on the ground to maintain law and order. The situation is being handled professionally, “he added.
WHILE, the Commander of the Lakes Sector of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has denied his involvement in the accident that claimed the lives of school children along Ogunnusi Road, Ojodu.
In a statement signed by the route commander and public education officer, Olabisi Sonusi, FRSC said: “An articulated truck was said to have lost control at the primary school bus stop along the Ogunnusi highway, which it caused the death of an unverified number of students and the departure of many injured.
“Bystanders called on FRSC men to help intervene after the accident.
“Approximately seven of the victims were rescued and immediately taken to the Lagos State Emergency Center, Ojota, by FRSC personnel, while another road user helped take about seven also to the same emergency center.
“The general public should ignore the information circulated by some unscrupulous elements that the FRSC men caused the accident.
“We want to record that our men were not involved in any way in causing the accident, as patrol activities were not ongoing along that axis at the time of the accident.
“The Sector Commander Olusegun Ogungbemide Corps Commander, however, wishes to sympathize with the families of the deceased, may God grant them the strength to endure irreplaceable loss. He also prayed that the injured would recover quickly.
“Therefore, he wishes to state that normality has been restored on the axis since the security agents are on the ground to guarantee the free movement of motorists.”