NNPC Truck Crushes newly wedded okada rider to death in Ondo

PANDEMONIUM was let loose in Akure metropolis, the capital city of Ondo State yesterday as commercial motorcycle riders chased all traffic wardens of the street over the death of one of their colleagues.

A fully loaded petroleum tanker belonging to the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) crushed a commercial motorcyclist, Mr. Kayode Esan to death around 8:00am.

It was gathered that the NNPC truck had break failure and ran into the victim at the popular Iye-Oma Plaze Junction, Alagbaka, leading to a lot of traffic gridlock.

According to eyewitnesses, the tanker driver noticed the mechanical fault when getting closer to El-Shaddai Junction and started shouting at the top of his voice to warn other road users.

They revealed that the deceased, Esan, who hailed from Ita Ogbolu in Akure North Local Government of the state and newly married, was so unlucky as he got crushed on his way from First Bank area and moving towards to Oba-Ile.

The victim died on the spot and this triggered the angst of his colleagues who would have set the tanker on fire but for the prompt intervention of security agencies, especially personnel of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).

In a large drove, the commercial motorcyclists, popularly called "Okada" embarked on widespread protest, causing heavy traffic jam and assaulting all traffic wardens stationed along Alagbaka to Ilesha Garage route.

The motorcyclists blamed the traffic warden for the ghastly accident and untimely death of their colleague, saying it was as a result of the carelessness of the police officer posted to direct traffic on that spot.

It took a dramatic turn at Adegbola Junction as the motorcycle riders swooned on the traffic warden and attacked him fiercely. He wanted to put up a resistance against them but had to take to his heels when he saw the mammoth crowd.

According to one of the okada riders, who identified himself as Jeunpe, "We don't want yellow fever on our roads again. They are the ones causing most of the accidents happening in the town. They often times cause confusion when passing vehicles.

"Sometimes too, they desert their duty post to hide themselves under the shades hosting, drinking and doing busybody without monitoring traffic, which is their major and primary assignment on the road."

The state Deputy Corp Commander and Head of Operation, Mr. Olusegun Ogungbemide, stated that the FRSC swung into action promptly, while the corpse had been deposited at a mortuary.

Ogungbemide, who urged all road users, especially motorcyclists and other motorists to be careful during the yuletide season, noted that the police had begun investigation on the matter.