…as truck crushes another five in Ibadan
Tragedy struck in Jibiya local council area of Katsina State on Monday, when a vehicle belonging to the Nigeria Customs Service, veered off the road at top speed in a market area, killing no fewer than seven persons.
On-board the ill-fated vehicle were armed Customs officials, hot on the chase of a racing rice smuggler, eyewitnesses recounted.
It was gathered that the vehicle, which rammed into a group of people at the market’s roadside, caused several others severe injuries -who are currently being attended to in a local hospital in the area.
Angry mob in the area resorted to a violent protest and eventually battered the customs’ official vehicle before the arrival of security operatives, it was gathered.
“They were chasing a J5 vehicle suspected to have smuggled rice. Their vehicle lost control and ran into a group of people standing by the roadside.
“Six persons died instantly and another one died on the way to the hospital. About 20 other persons were seriously injured.
“In retaliation, an angry mob from the area burnt the custom vehicle before police could arrive at the scene,” an eyewitness told newsmen.
The spokesman for the Katsina Area Command of the Nigerian Customs Service, Danbaba Isah, while confirming the incident, said investigation was ongoing to ascertain the cause of the accident.
Meanwhile, in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, five persons were crushed to death on Monday, when a tanker laden with petrol ran over a taxi conveying five persons.
All five died instantly.
The accident occurred at Celica area on new Ife-Ibadan Road, Egbeda Local Government area.
It was learnt that the petrol tanker lost control, rammed into a Nissan Micra taxi car and dragged the mangled car, bearing occupants, into a nearby ditch.
It was a heart-rending sight as sympathisers reportedly grieved and watched helplessly.
The victims were three male and two female adults, according to accounts.
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Sector Commander in the state, Mr. Uche Chukwurah, confirmed the incident, attributing it to loss of control by the tanker’s driver.