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How we escaped death in Ibadan fatal accident -Traders
Survivors and traders at Eleyele Market, Ibadan have revealed how they escaped death in a fatal accident that occurred at Eleyele Junction in the city on Wednesday, resulting in the loss of two lives while six others were injured.
The incident occurred at the peak traffic hours, causing disruption in the area. The scene was chaotic, with bystanders rushing to help the victims while others called for emergency services.
Security agents arrived quickly at the scene while emergency responders worked to transport the injured to nearby hospitals for treatment. The two deceased persons were said to have been pronounced dead on arrival.
The accident has raised concerns among residents about road safety measures at the busy junction. But in the aftermath of the accident, some traders and survivors have narrated their ordeal during the sad incident.
Speaking with our correspondent, a transporter at Eleyele garage, Isiaka Awoyemi, said he would have also died in the accident if his bus was loading at the time the accident occurred.
He said: “I was sitting down there when the incident occurred. I packed my bus inside the garage. We all ran for our lives because it was sudden and unexpected.
“I also would have died if not for God that saved me.”
He added: “One of the women that died just got to the market in the morning. She went to buy food, and on her way back to her seat, the truck crushed her.
“Although she also tried to escape, she could not. After the incident, when we all got back from where we ran to, we carried her, unknown to us that the truck had also crushed the head of another woman who was sitting down there.
“Some of the victims who were seriously injured are currently at UCH (University College Hospital, Ibadan) while others with minor injuries are in a nearby hospital
“Two people died. One was buried yesterday. Her mother has heard about the incident. Her father died only recently.
“She had four children and her children are still small. We tried to rescue her. We took her to the hospital but we were told she had already died.
“They said her waist was broken.”
Another trader at the market, Mrs. Fatimoh Bakare, who also witnessed the accident, said: “We cannot explain how it happened. We were sitting down with our respective goods. Then suddenly we heard a loud noise.
“We ran and most of us fell down. It was just like a film. I was also injured.
“Kazeem Bolanle, who is a brother to me, is currently at UCH. His two legs were broken.
She said: “We sat down and were backing the road. Then we just heard the sound. God saved me. I don’t even know how I fell down and escaped.”
Our reporter, who also visited Arike Hospital, Eleyele Junction, Ibadan where two victims were taken gathered that the two victims had been discharged and had gone home.
Efforts made by our reporter to get the reactions of injured victims at the University College Hospital (UCH) Emergency Unit were abortive as access to the victims was denied by the security people on ground.
Meanwhile, one of the traders at the market, Mrs Sakirat Kazeem, has revealed her last moment with one of the deceased persons popularly known as “Iya Alfa”, describing the deceased as a lovely and kind-hearted woman.
She said: “We called her Iya Alfa. She was a senior wife to me. She was a good woman. In fact, at times, she paid the transport fare for my goods when I didn’t have money.
“She didn’t use to come to the market every day; she only came every five days. She used to come from Ido market. She would bring whatever she bought at Ido market here to sell.
“The day the accident occurred was the first day she would come to the market since the beginning of this year.
“When she came in the morning, she greeted me happy new year, and I also responded.
“There is nothing someone can do without God. I can’t even explain how I escaped, because I was also at the scene of the incident
“When I saw the truck coming, I jumped and held a poll. I started shouting Jesus Christ, Jesus Christ. I jumped away despite the fact that I didn’t have the strength to jump.
The Iyaloja (market leader) of Eleyele Market, Alhaja Ganiyat Adekola and Chairman of the garage, Wasiu Lamidi, while speaking with The Nation, said those that died or got injured were not roadside traders, adding that the truck crushed them inside the garage following brake failure.
They urged the state government to provide a large space for traders to serve as a market for them instead of using the garage, to forestall future reoccurrence.
“We need a proper market so that our people will stop using the garage as market. Also, the VIO should enlighten truck drivers on how to drive the truck.
“The boy who drove the truck was too small. Anybody who would drive a truck should be mature and have enough experience.”
As the community mourns the loss of life and supports the injured, it is clear that this tragic event has sparked a renewed commitment to road safety in Ibadan.
Residents hope that through collaboration and proactive measures, they can create a safer environment for all road users. The memory of the victims will serve as a catalyst for change, urging everyone to prioritise safety on the roads.
Community leaders and concerned citizens within the area have begun to discuss potential solutions to enhance safety at Eleyele Junction, emphasising the need for increased awareness among drivers and the importance of adhering to traffic regulations.
Some residents suggested organising a community-led campaign to educate drivers on safe driving practices, particularly in high-traffic areas. The discussion highlighted the collective responsibility of both authorities and citizens in ensuring road safety.
Officials acknowledged the community’s concerns and have pledged to take action to improve safety measures. This incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers present on the roads and the urgent need for effective interventions to prevent future accidents.
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo has been confirmed as Governor by the Edo Petition Tribunal in Abuja.
He had earlier won on September 21, 2024 on the political cum electoral turf when he clinched the first prize.
He defeated Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, his closest competitor, who was banking on the power of incumbent PDP administration in the state to win.
Ighodalo and the PDP had filed their petition at the Tribunal challenging Okpebholo and APC’s victory at the poll.
But delivering its judgement in the petition on Wednesday, the Edo Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal ruled that PDP petition failed for lack of competent witnesses
The Tribunal said that the PDP petition challenging the outcome of the 2024 governorship election also failed, because of insufficient evidence to substantiate claims of electoral malpractice.
The petitioners had alleged that the failure to properly record electoral materials prior to the election had affected the results.
However, the Tribunal found that while documents were submitted, no witnesses were called to properly authenticate them, rendering the evidence inadmissible.
Of the 19 witnesses presented by the petitioners, 14 were ward and local government agents, while their star witness, who claimed to be a director of strategy, played no direct role in the conduct of the election.
The Tribunal noted that none of these witnesses provided testimony on the alleged failure of prior recording of electoral materials, deeming them incompetent to testify on the matter.
Furthermore, the Tribunal emphasized that for allegations of over-voting to be proven, petitioners must provide oral evidence, in line with the precedent set by the Supreme Court.
It stressed that it was bound to adhere strictly to the Supreme Court’s roadmap in adjudicating election disputes.
According to the statement, the arrests took place on Monday, March 31, 2025, following credible intelligence.
The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has said that its officers arrested 51 illegal migrants from Mali in New Nyanya, Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.
The NIS made this known in a statement issued on Wednesday by its Public Relations Officer, ACI A.S. Akinlabi.
According to the statement, the arrests took place on Monday, March 31, 2025, following credible intelligence.
A breakdown of the arrested migrants revealed that 11 were female, while 40 were male, with ages ranging between 16 and 19 years.
Akinlabi stated that preliminary investigations revealed that the arrested illegal migrants may have been victims of Trafficking in Persons (TIP) and Smuggling of Migrants (SOM), as they were found without valid travel documents or residence permits.
“Preliminary investigations conducted by the Service suggest that the migrants may have been victims of Trafficking in Persons (TIP) and Smuggling of Migrants (SOM), as they were found without valid travel documents or residence permits,” Akinlabi stated.
The statement further noted that the detained individuals have been taken into the custody of the Service for further profiling and investigation.
“The arrested individuals have been taken into the custody of the Service for further profiling and investigation to determine the circumstances of their migration and any potential involvement of trafficking or smuggling networks or syndicates,” Akinlabi added.
Akinlabi further stated that the NIS would determine the circumstances surrounding their migration and uncover any potential involvement of trafficking or smuggling syndicates.
The statement added, “The Nigeria Immigration Service remains committed to ensuring that Nigeria’s borders are protected against illegal migration while upholding the rights of migrants who comply with the country’s immigration laws.
“The Service continues to work closely with relevant authorities and stakeholders to combat smuggling of migrants and counter trafficking in persons effectively.
“The NIS reassures the general public of its unwavering commitment to National Security and Migration Management while encouraging citizens to report suspicious migration activities to the nearest NIS Commands and Formations.”
The remains of an engineer, Chigozie Udalu, have been exhumed from a shallow grave in Akwukwu-Igbo, the headquarters of Oshimili North Local Government Area in Delta State.
Recall that the engineer, who was contracted to construct offices in Akwukwu-Igbo, was murdered and buried in a shallow grave.
Though the incident occurred in December 2024, details only emerged recently after two suspects were arrested in connection with the crime.
Assailants Murder Construction Engineer In Delta State Community, Bury In Shallow Grave
A community source revealed that the suspects, identified as Tiv youths from Benue State, allegedly killed the engineer and concealed his body on a farm.
“Two Tiv boys from Benue State have been arrested in connection with the crime. They buried the engineer’s remains in a shallow grave on a farm,” the source stated.
The Delta State Police Command confirmed the incident, with spokesman Edafe Bright acknowledging that an investigation was ongoing.
“We are aware of the incident, and our men are working to ensure others involved are apprehended,” Bright revealed.
On Wednesday, the remains of the victim were exhumed by the police and the Delta State government.
A police source revealed that the arrested suspects alleged the engineer owed them money and often verbally abused them.
“They had also intended to steal cement from the site but perceived the engineer as an obstacle. On December 10, 2024, they planned to strike him with a 2×2 plank but assumed he was physically strong and might overpower them.
“On December 11, the Tiv boys put a rope around his neck from behind, causing strangulation. Upon his death, they buried him in a shallow grave on the farm,” the source explained.
“Following the murder, the suspects reportedly completed their contract at the site and stole the victim’s phone, making several attempts to transfer money via a mobile app.
“Additionally, the landlord of the construction site was accused of being involved in money rituals. In an attempt to clear his name, he was taken to shrines to swear an oath before the victim’s family.
“The landlord recounted his ordeal, stating that he nearly gave up on the case due to the challenges he faced with the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Asaba.
“However, a police officer suggested he visit Ekpan Divisional Police Officer (DPO), CSP Aliyu Shaba. The officer assured him that within 30 days, the truth would be uncovered.
“Upon arrival at Ekpan, the landlord briefed the DPO, who assembled his team and employed sophisticated investigative techniques, leading to the arrest of two suspects.
“One of the suspects later confessed to knowing the location where the engineer was buried,” the source said.
A young man was also arrested and transferred to the SCID for openly threatening the victim in the presence of the landlord, further highlighting the brutality of the crime.
Of the four individuals arrested, two are considered principal suspects. Meanwhile, a manhunt is ongoing for the remaining suspects who are still at large.
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