Oyo residents scream as 18 people die in a traffic accident in one week
Residents of Ogbomoso, Oyo State have called on both the Federal and State Governments to double the main A road in the city.
Residents speaking at the weekend pointed out that this was necessary to avoid the constant traffic accidents on the road.
DAILY POST reports that at last count, about 18 people lost their lives in various road accidents in the region within a week.
Many others suffered life-threatening injuries.
This road connects Ogbomoso with other cities in the southern and northern parts of the country.
Agrik – Arinkinkin High School – Caretaker – Takie – Located between Sabo and Aroje. It is a long road of about 7-8 km.
Among those who lost their lives in the accident were three traditional rulers of Oriile Local Government Area. The dead included Olodogbo of Odogbo, Oniboura of Bowra and Arayatoro of Ayetoro.
They were on their way to the funeral of Olo-Oro's mother, the brother of Olo-Oro Oba Oyebunmi Ajayi, one of the traditional rulers of the area.
It is also reported that three motorcyclists lost their lives in the Emmayo area along the road.
Sadly, at around 3.30am on Saturday, a petrol tanker tipped over in the village of Sekona, spilling its contents and igniting a fire that reportedly left nine people with disastrous burns.
Also, a tractor-trailer reportedly crushed the foot of a commercial motorcycle driver and passenger in the Caretaker/Ijeru Baptist Basic School District on Saturday morning.
Late on the same Saturday afternoon, a heavily laden logging truck/timber truck allegedly lost control while descending Sekoni Hill towards Takie Square.
The driver of the commercial motorcycle reportedly died in the accident.
Angered by these multiple fatal accidents, city residents appealed to the government to double the roads.
Residents also urged the government to construct flyovers at strategic locations such as Takie Square and Caretaker Junction.
Idowu Asifa, in his speech on Saturday, appealed to the state government for assistance.
“I appeal to Governor Seyi Makinde to double this road from Agriculture (Agricultural Settlement Plan) to Aroje or Igbon and support us.
“Just yesterday, three traditional rulers died on the road. Today we heard about another one and two more in Emmayo area. If the roads are dual-plated, there will be fewer head-on collisions.” he said.
Another resident, Michael Adegbosin, said:
“The way to reduce these road accidents is for governments to make roads dual carriageway, which reduces head-on collisions and gives drivers more space to maneuver in emergencies.
“When the Federal Government completes the two-wheeler road connecting Ibadan and Ilorin through Oyo and Ogbomoso, this road should also be returned to the Oyo State Government for ease of maintenance.”
Another resident, who requested anonymity, also called for the construction of viaducts at several strategic locations.
“If a viaduct had been built over Takie, I think this accident could have been avoided.
“Takie Rotary is accident-prone, so installing a flyover would be a good solution. We appeal to Governor Makinde to build a flyover at this location, which is always crowded.
“After all, he once promised to hold it at Ogunlola Hall in Ojagbo. That was his first tenure when Mr. Ogbomoso’s vote for him was even marginal. These 2 In the term, we voted for him in large numbers.
“Let him help us double the roads and fulfill the promise of a flyover. Caretaker Junction also needs a flyover.”
Source: dailypost.ng