Tragedy - 20 Die in Accident on Way to Wedding

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. 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. It was 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 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.

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. 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.