OGUN ACCIDENT: AGAIN, TRUCK CRUSHES A CHURCH BUS; 18 CHURCH MEMBERS DIES

Eighteen persons were confirmed dead while many others were severely injured today when an 18 seater Toyota Hiace bus collided with

another vehicle at Ototo village in Obafemi Owode local government area of Ogun State southwest, Nigeria.
When our correspondent visited the scene of the accident, officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), state Fire Service,Ogun State
Ambulance Services, Police and Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency(TRACE) were seen evacuating the victims.
There was wailing and shedding of tears by bystanders and sympathisers as the rescue teams were busy packing the remains of the
deceased.
The injured were taken to the hospital in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital.
The accident which involved an 18 seater Toyota Hiace branded in Luk Dos Transport Company had an head on collision with an articulated
vehicle marked LAGOS JJJ 489 XB occurred at Ototo village few meters away from the state capital.
The passengers of the ill fated Lagos bound bus were said to be members of African Church Solution Camp situated along Ewang Estate
within Abeokuta metropolis.
Our correspondent gathered that the church members were travelling to attend a wedding ceremony of one of their members
According to a mechanic working very close to the accident spot,”the accident occurred around 7.30am this morning when a truck which was coming from an opposite direction lost control due to over speeding and rammed into the bus.Immediately the accident occurred,16 of the passengers died on the spot while another two died when they were being taken to the hospital”.
It was further gathered that a two year old girl who was also in the church bus sustained an head injury and she has since being taken to
the State Hospital in Ijaye where the Doctors were seen battling to rescue her life when P.M. News visited there.
Speaking with our correspondent at the scene of the accident, the TRACE Coordinator, Mr. Sola Bamidele blamed the truck driver for causing
the accident due to his reckless driving.
According to him, “the bus took off from Abeokuta not less than 30minutes before the accident occurred, we are still trying to get in
touch with the management of the transport company so as to get the manifest of the passengers and see how we can reach their families”.
The Coordinating Officer of the Ogun State Ambulances Services, Dr. Hassan Adelakun, who confirmed the death of some of the passengers
and those who died on their way to the hospital, added that motorists needs to be cautious whenever they are behind the wheel, warning that
life has no duplicate.
Adelakun further confirmed that the remains of the victims have been deposited at the morgues of the State Hospital, Ijaiye and Federal
Medical Centre (FMC),Idi-Aba, Abeokuta.
However, the Federal Road Safety Corps has given a different account of the accident.
According to the Ogun state commander, Ayobami Omiyale, nine persons, including an infant, died in the accident on the Abeokuta-Sagamu expressway in Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of Ogun.
Omiyale, told newsmen that the accident occurred a few kilometres to the Police College in Kobape area of the road.
Omiyale said that two vehicles, a Volvo tipper, marked LAGOS JJJ 489 XB and a Toyoa Hiace bus with registration number, XF 795 AAA, were involved in the accident.
He said that although 20 people were involved in the accident, only nine could be confirmed dead by the FRSC.
“We have yet to ascertain the exact number of the dead as it is speculated that some sympathisers have taken away some victims,’’ he said.
Omiyale added that “nine persons, which include an infant less than a year old, were confirmed dead by my men.’’
He said that the remains of the victims had been deposited at the morgue at Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta.
The sector commander, who attributed the accident to dangerous driving, appealed to motorists to drive with care and obey traffic rules and regulations while on the highway.
On 18 September, another fatal accident in Ijebu-Ode, also in Ogun state claimed over 50 lives. The accident, caused by over speeding, occurred at the Ijebu-Ode roundabout on the Sagamu-Ore expressway.