Three people have been confirmed dead in a lone accident along the Oke-Onigbin and Omu-Aran road after the Workers’ Day celebration in Kwara State.
The Tribune gathered that those involved in the accident were members of the Medical and Health Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MHWUN), Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State.
The Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Kwara Command, Kabir Kazeem, who confirmed the incident, said it occurred around 3 p.m. when the celebrants were returning to their local government from Ilorin, the state capital.
‘A commercial bus, a black Mazda with registration number ARP627KY, was on May 1 involved in a lone accident due to overspeeding.
‘Seven people were involved in the accident, comprising three males and four females, but unfortunately, three females died on the spot,’ he said.
Kazeem noted that FRSC officers rushed to the scene and evacuated the injured passengers and the bodies of the deceased to the nearest hospital in Omu-Aran.
He added that the driver lost control after one of the vehicle’s tyres burst at high speed, leading to the fatal crash.
The Sector Commander said the FRSC would continue to sensitise drivers on road safety and urged passengers to caution drivers where necessary.
The Chairman of Ekiti Local Government Council, Mr Awelewa Gabriel, described the incident as a painful blow to the council, the health sector, and the state as a whole.
‘Our hearts are heavy. These were dedicated professionals who left their homes to celebrate the dignity of labour, only to meet this unfortunate fate on their way back.
‘We have lost patriots who served our communities with compassion and commitment,’ he said.
The Chairman assured that the local government would work with the state government and relevant agencies to support the affected families and assist with medical expenses.