By Duchess Ifeoluwa
Tragedy struck in Akure, the Ondo State capital, on Wednesday morning as a tipper truck crushed two brothers to death along Reuben Fasoranti Road in an accident that sparked outrage among residents and motorists in the area.
The fatal incident occurred in front of the headquarters of the Vehicle Inspection Office (VIO), where officials were reportedly conducting routine vehicle inspection and licence checks at the time of the accident.
The victims, said to be brothers from the same parents, were riding on a ladies’ motorcycle when the speeding tipper truck rammed into several vehicles and motorcycles, killing them instantly.
One of the deceased was identified by sympathisers as a fruit seller who operated a shed beside Showboy Plaza, Alagbaka, while the second victim was said to be his younger brother.
Eyewitnesses alleged that the accident was triggered by traffic congestion caused by the stop-and-check operation being carried out by VIO officers along the busy road.
A commercial driver whose vehicle was badly damaged in the incident narrowly escaped death and narrated his ordeal to journalists at the scene.
“I came to deliver goods to my boss, but the shop was yet to open, so I parked my vehicle. As I was moving towards the boot to bring down the goods in front of the shop, I suddenly heard people shouting,” he said.
“When I looked back, I saw the tipper clearing vehicles and motorcycles. I immediately ran for my life. You can see how badly my vehicle was damaged.
“The tipper crushed the two men on the motorcycle instantly. I thank God for sparing my life.”
The accident caused panic and confusion in the area as residents, traders and passersby gathered at the scene.
Police officers from the Ijapo Division were later drafted to the area and reportedly evacuated the bodies of the victims to a morgue.
Angry residents and sympathisers openly blamed the VIO officials for the tragedy, insisting that the roadside inspection exercise created avoidable obstruction and exposed road users to danger.
Tension reportedly escalated shortly after the incident, with some aggrieved youths attempting to mobilise against the VIO office before security operatives intervened.
The timely intervention of police officers was said to have prevented an attack on the VIO headquarters and restored calm to the area.
As of the time of filing this report, heavy police presence remained around the VIO headquarters, which was hurriedly shut down to avert possible violence from angry residents and youths.
Efforts to obtain official reaction from the Ondo State Vehicle Inspection Office on the incident were unsuccessful as officials hurriedly locked the premises.
