Twenty-one persons have been killed in two separate auto crashes in Kaduna and Osun States.
The Kaduna crash occurred in Kateri along the Kaduna-Abuja Expressway in the Kagarko Local Government Area of the state on Sunday.
While a popular broadcaster with Uniq FM, a private road station based in Ilesha, Sunday Alakinde, and one other commuter, whose identity could not be immediately ascertained, were killed in a crash, which occurred around 3am on Monday on the Ilesha/Ile-Ife Expressway.
A DAF truck vehicle involved in the Kaduna accident was said to be coming from Lagos and was headed for Kano when the crash occurred.
The crash, according to the state Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Mr Samuel Aruwan, was caused by a combination of excessive speed and tyre burst, leading to the loss of control on the part of the driver, which caused the vehicle to veer off the road and into the bush.
Aruwan explained that 53 persons were involved in the crash, out of which 16 died on the spot, while three others later passed away.
The commissioner said 34 persons sustained varying degrees of injury, adding that they were evacuated from the scene by personnel of the state command of the Federal Road Safety Corps.
He added that the survivors were receiving treatment in an undisclosed hospital.
Aruwan stated, “Security agencies reported that 19 people died in a road traffic crash at the Kateri axis of the Kaduna-Abuja Highway on Sunday.
“A total of 53 persons were involved in the crash; 16 of these died on the spot, with three others later confirmed dead.
“Thirty-four sustained injuries, which ranged from bruises and cuts to dislocations and head injuries. They were evacuated from the scene by personnel of the Federal Road Safety Corps.
“Officials of the Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs visited the site of the crash to ascertain the report of events and avoid misrepresentation of the incident.
“According to Auwal Idris, the driver, most of the passengers on board the ill-fated truck were picked at Kara by a filling station in Lagos (Ogun) State, with some to be dropped off at Zaria, while Kano was meant to be the final destination.”
“Governor Nasir El-Rufai expressed shock and sadness at the report and prayed for the repose of the souls of those who perished in the crash, while sending condolences to their families. He also wished the injured victims speedy recovery,” the commissioner added.
One other person was also injured in the Osun accident, which involved a luxury bus and a Peugeot 406 saloon car.
The Public Relations Officer, Osun Command, Federal Road Safety Corps, Agnes Ogungbemi, confirmed the crash.
Ogungbemi said, “The accident occurred around 3am on the Ilesha/Ile-Ife route. The probable cause is speed limit violation. One person was injured, while two others died.
“The injured victim was taken to the Wesley Hospital, Ilesha, for medical treatment, while the remains of the deceased were deposited in the morgue of the same hospital.”
Meanwhile, the Osun State chapter of the Freelance and Independent Broadcasters Association of Nigeria has expressed shock over Alakinde’s sudden death.
A statement by the state Publicity Secretary of the association, Mukhtar Ajelogbon, explained that Alakinde died in the crash while going to work.
The statement read in part, “Alakinde died in a motor accident along the Ilesha/Ile-Ife Expressway around 3am while coming from the Ijebu-Jesa Expressway to resume duty at Uniq FM.
“Until his death, Alakinde worked in the News and Current Affairs Department of Uniq FM, Ilesha, and was the former Organising Secretary of the Osun State FIBAN before rising to the national office.”
