Tragedy struck in the university community of Akungba-Akoko, headquarters of Akoko South West Local Government Area of Ondo State, on Saturday as no fewer than 12 people were feared dead in a fatal road accident.
The accident occurred opposite Adekunle Ajasin University barely a month after a similar accident, but in which no life was lost.
According to an eyewitness, the truck belonging to Dangote Group was coming from Ikare Akoko area in Akoko North East Local Government Area of the state, lost control and rammed into shops along the road.
The eyewitness, who did not want their name mentioned, said about eight bodies had been recovered under the truck.
“The trailer was coming from Ikare Akoko axis and had a brake failure, so the driver lost control of the vehicle and swerved off the road into the shops, where students of the university were shopping.
”As I am talking to you now, we have been able to recover eight bodies, we are still trying to rescue those that are trapped inside the shop,” the eyewitness said.
When contacted, Ondo police spokesman Tee-Leo Ikoro confirmed that eight people died in the incident.
“The cement trailer was coming from Obajana in Kogi State when it rammed into the shops. Eight dead bodies have been recovered and our men are still searching for other trapped victims,” he was quoted as saying.
Meanwhile, three of the victims of the Saturday’s crash were siblings. Two of them were final year students of the university.
It was gathered that their mother collapsed and died on hearing the news of their death.
A former students’ union president of the university and final year Law student, Adesomoju Tobi, was among the victims.
The university’s management yesterday ordered closure of the institution till further notice. Examinations, which were scheduled to commence on Monday, have also been put off.
Acting Vice Chancellor Prof. Olugbenga Ige, who visited the scene, commiserated with the victims’ families, describing the incident as a tragedy.