Image caption: Traffic situation at the scene of the accident that claimed three lives Thursday morning
Another tragedy as trailer crushes mother, 2 daughters to death in Ogbomoso
Abdulrasak BELLO
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The trend of trailer-induced killings continued in Ogbomoso, Oyo state Wednesday night as three were crushed to death at Apake area of the city.
The three, the mother whose name is given simply as Kudirat and her two daughters Mariam (13 years) and Azeezat (10 years) were said to be returning from their banku’s (corn meal variety that originated from Ghana) selling stall at Takie when they met with the cruel fate.
According to eyewitnesses the deceased left their shop at Takie at about 11pm and were going back to their residence at Nana river/Atenda area on a commercial motorcycle when the accident occured.
The motorcyclist overtook an articulated vehicle (trailer) as he descended the Takie slope. “But as he made to complete the overtaking and return to his lane at the Polaris Bank area, the trailer swerved to avoid a pothole and in the process hit the motorcycle which made the woman and the two daughters to be thrown off into the path of the trailer and were driven over by the trailer,” an eyewitness who however did not give her name informed ogbomosoinsightonline.com.
“The three were crushed brutally. However, the motorcyclist escaped unhurt while the trailer driver also sped off, he was pursued but he made his escape,” it was added.
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The deceased mother, further information by Ogbomoso Insight revealed, was also an hair-dresser, with her shop in front of her residence and sold banku all through morning till evening. “At about 5-6pm Mariam would take further consignment of banku to Takie and by 7:30 her sister would join her, then the mother would join later and would sell the meal till about 11:00pm,” a neighbour informed.
“She was very hardworking; she had lost her husband and was always working morning till night. She would wake up as early as 4:30am to start preparing the banku. As she sold the banku at home she would attend to clients who wanted to plait their hair. She left a small kid. It is really tragic,” the neighbour stated.
It was added that the usual motorcyclist that picked the trio was unavailable yesterday and sent someone else to perform the duty, which unfortunately ended disastrously.
The bodies have been deposited at a mortuary, it was said.
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Residents have been calling attention of governments both federal and state to come to their rescue by rehabilitating the badly damaged major trunk A road that passes through the city. There have also been calls that the road be dualized within the metropolis to reduce cases of head-on collisions which often is provoked due to dangerous overtaking that often occurs.
“Let’s pray the blood of the innocent people dying will make them see reason,” a resident, Kola Adekunle, submitted.
