By Banji Ayoola
Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, has pledged to help victims of Saturday’s road crash at Ibaka, Akungba Akoko, in Akoko South-West Local Government Area, that claimed at least 16 persons on Saturday.
The Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, had confirmed the casualty figures in a statement on Sunday by the Public Education Officer of the corps, Bisi Kazeem.
It quoted FRSC Marshal, Dr Boboye Oyeyemi lamenting the huge loss of lives and damage to properties, saying: “The fatal crash involved a total of 23 people comprising of 11 male adults, three male children, seven female adult and two female children.
“Out of the 23 people involved, a total of seven people comprising of three male adults, three female adult and one male child were rescued with different degrees of injuries and taking to the hospital.
“While 16 people got killed comprising of eight male adults, two male children, four female adult and two female children and the dead bodies have been deposited at Specialist Hospital Ikare and General Hospital Iwaro Oka mortuaries respectively by FRSC emergency rescue teams.”
During his visit to the crash scene, Akeredolu described the incident as a tragedy and sympathised with the people and the Alale of Akungba, Oba Isaac Adeyeye who received the governor and his entourage.
A statement by the state’s Ministry of Information said: “The governor assured of government assistance to the victims while efforts would also be made to get the owner of the articulated vehicle that caused the accident to pay adequate compensation for losses suffered by the people.”
It said: “Speaking on ways to forestall a repeat of similar tragedy, Governor Akeredolu said expert advice would be sought on what to do but advised the people to desist from roadside trading which could be dangerous to their safety.”
He directed the Chairman of Akoko Southwest Local Government Council, Augustine Oloruntogbe and the Commissioner for Agriculture Asiwaju Gboyega Adefarati “to follow up on the injured in various hospitals for government immediate action.”
“Arakunrin Akeredolu also enjoined officials of Federal Road Safety Commission to assist in clearing off the road for early resumption of free flow of vehicular traffic.
“Earlier the Alale of Akungba Akoko, Oba Isaac Adeyeye appreciated the governor for his condolence visit which he said was a smoothing balm on his people.
“The Royal Father said the community was already taking some steps to discourage roadside trading on major highways in the town before the unfortunate incidence occurred.”
