16 police recruits die in Kwara crash

IGP: MOHAMMED ABUBAKAR

No fewer than  16 police recruits were burnt to death while six others were critically injured in an auto accident on  Sunday in Omu Aran, Kwara  State.

The victims were said to be on their way  to Nasarawa State when the accident occurred at about  10am.

An unspecified number of women were said to be among  the dead in the accident involving an 18-seater Hummer bus and a Mercedes Benz 190 model.

While a source, who claimed to be an eyewitness  told journalists that 16 people died, the Kwara State Sector  Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps,  Mr. Christopher Ademoluti, said only two people died.

Ademoluti, in a telephone interview with our correspondent, said the driver of the Mercedez Benz had a locked steering.

He explained that in an attempt by the driver to make the steering to be free, the vehicle veered off to the other side of the road and the Hummer bus rammed onto it, hit an electric pole and a house before it burst into flame.

News Agency of Nigeria reports  that the accident occurred  on the  Omu Aran-Ilofa Road,  the same spot where a commercial motorcyclist  died  in an accident in  December 2012.

Most  of the occupants of the bus,  which took off from Ilorin,  were said to be of Kwara State origin and  had just concluded their police training.

Another eyewitness said the Mercedes Benz car, marked AC 345 DKA, was heading toward Omu Aran before  it had a head-on collision with the bus in front of  the Federal Government College.

The number plate of the bus  was completely damaged in the accident,  making identification impossible.

Another eyewitness and auto mechanic, Mr. Adekunle Azeez,  told NAN that the driver of the  car, who was  critically injured, lost control of the steering wheel and rammed  into the bus.

“The car  was on top speed on its way toward Omu-Aran and I think the driver lost grip of the steering wheel  and swerved  before ramming into the bus

“The bus immediately caught fire,” he said.

Those who sustained  injuries were taken  to the Omu-Aran General Hospital for treatment.

The Divisional Police Officer in  Omu-Aran, Mr. Rasak Adebayo, confirmed the incident and said his command had started investigations.

The Kwara State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Fabode Olufemi, confirmed the accident, but said only two police constables died.

He, however, said the driver of the Mercedez Benz did not sustain any injury, adding that the police were on his trail.

He said, “On Sunday about 9am,  a 16 seater bus conveying some newly passed out constables had an accident at Omu Aran. The vehicle collided with another vehicle which was carrying petrol. It lost control and hit a house in a nearby compound. The bus caught fire.

“Two of the constables died. The remaining 12 constables sustained various burns or injuries. They have been taken to University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital where they are receiving treatment.

“The driver of the Mercedez that collided with the vehicle carrying police constables had no injury. Police are still looking for him. We only lost two constables. The victims are Nigerian policemen.”