One person was killed and seven others injured on Wednesday when a truck rammed into a campaign procession organised by the All Progressives Congress (APC) in support of its governorship candidate for the August 15 election in Osun State, Asiwaju Bola Oyebamiji.
The incident occurred in the Oke Gada area of Ede during a street mobilisation exercise by party supporters.
Chairman of the Media and Publicity Committee of the Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji Campaign Committee, Remi Omowaiye, confirmed the development, saying the injured victims were receiving treatment at private hospitals in Ofatedo and Ede.
According to him, “One person was killed in the accident. Seven others were injured, but one out of the seven was critically injured.”
The deceased was identified as AbdulRasaq Ahmed.
An eyewitness alleged that the truck driver ignored traffic directives issued by officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps deployed to manage traffic during the procession.
“It was a sad incident and one which could have been avoided. The coordinator of the Federal Road Safety Corps had earlier directed that vehicles should use one lane of the road while APC members used the other lane.
“However, the truck driver drove through the lane we were walking on and rammed into the crowd. The boy was killed in the process, while many got injured and are receiving treatment at the hospital,” the witness said.
Speaking after a condolence visit to the family of the deceased, the running mate to the APC governorship candidate, Benjamin Adereti, called for a thorough investigation into the incident.
“We are still trying to unravel the reason behind this. The way the incident happened looked like the truck deliberately rammed into our party members in Ede while campaigning,” Adereti said.
He urged security agencies to investigate the immediate and remote causes of the tragedy, adding that the party would not be deterred in its campaign activities.
Adereti also commiserated with the family of the deceased, praying for divine comfort in their moment of grief.
