At least two persons were killed and many injured as a truck loaded with forest wood logs rammed into a muslim congregation observing Eid prayers to mark the annual Eid-el-Kabir celebration at Ijebu Igbo, Ogun State.
Also, a police officer was killed by a stray bullet in an ensuing melee shortly after the incident, throwing the entire community into confusion and mourning. It was gathered that the truck had a break failure before ramming into the worshippers, leaving many critically injured.
A worshipper, Alh. Ademola Balogun told DailyTrust that he and his family members escaped death by whiskers, but his Toyota Tundra with number APP 995 DD, was badly damaged.
“I do not see reason why these trucks should be allowed to operate today. Me and my family escaped death narrowly. As I speak to you three persons had died. It is very bad here this morning. The question is why should the truck be allowed to work today? Why?” Balogun queried.
The death of the policeman it was gathered occurred when the sporadic gunshots by policemen drafted to quell the ensuing violent protest by worshippers against the truck drivers and its owners hit one of them.
Residents of Atikori claimed that the driver of the truck Ope Sulaiman from Oke Agbo took to his heels after the incident.
The chairman of Ijebu Igbo West Local Council Development Council Area, Goke Adekunbi, has appealed for calm assuring that necessary steps would be taken on the matter. He also prayed for the repose of the souls of those who lost their lives in the sad incident.