Shocking: truck crushes five students to death in Ibadan

Four pupils of the Federal Government Girls’ College, Oyo and a driver were crushed to death in a fatal accident few kilometres away from the school gate on Sunday.

Also, five other pupils were injured in the accident.

The deceased pupils, Olubukola John, SS3; Taibat Giwa, SS3; Mojisola Ladipo, SS1; and Mariam Ibirogba, JSS 3; and those injured were returning to the school after observing mid-term break when the incident occured.

The Public Relations Officer of the college, Mr. Akin Omitade, told newsmen on Monday that the accident occurred at a market when an overloaded truck carrying bags of food stuff lost its balance while trying to negotiate a narrow bend in the busy market.

In the process, the truck fell on the mini-bus conveying the pupils to the school, killing four of them and the driver of the mini-bus.

The PRO said, “The students were returning to school from the mid-term break. They were already in Oyo town and boarded the usual mini-bus at the garage ahead of the 6pm resumption deadline.

“But an accident occurred when a truck carrying loads of garri lost its balance while trying to navigate its way amid the busy market where traders displayed their wares at different parts of the road. It fell sideways with all its content spilled on the mini-bus conveying the pupils.

“The driver and the four pupils died immediately, while five other pupils who managed to escape were seriously injured and are already receiving medical attention in two different private hospitals in Oyo.

“Our appeal is for government to quickly help us repair that narrow part of the road. We also want to call on the market and community leaders to ensure that traders are not allowed to display their wares on the road as that often compounds the traffic situation of the dilapidated road.”