Residents of Bamgboye community of Ajilosun, Ado-Ekiti, on Friday, blocked the major road linking Ikere-Ekiti and Ado-Ekiti to protest what they described as the government’s failure to address the worsening condition of the road and recurring fatal accidents in the area.
The protest followed a fatal accident that occurred in the community on Thursday, which claimed the life of a woman and left another victim critically injured and receiving treatment in a hospital.
Multiple eyewitnesses gave account of the circumstances surrounding the crash, alleging that a member of a local motorcycle riders’ union had stopped the motorcycle conveying the woman and attempted to forcefully sell an operational ticket to the rider.
According to the witnesses, the alleged confrontation caused the motorcyclist to lose control before the truck subsequently rammed into the motorcycle.
The woman was said to have died on the spot as a result of the impact, while the other victim was rushed to a hospital where he was receiving treatment.
They further alleged that the union member involved in the incident fled the area after the accident.
The development angered residents, who subsequently took to the road on Friday, barricading the major route with pieces of wood and other materials to express their displeasure and draw attention to what they described as the dangerous condition of the road.
Residents also alleged that another fatal accident occurred in the area last week, intensifying concerns over the safety of motorists, commercial transport operators and pedestrians using the road.
The Chairman of the community, Mr. Fatai Akinola, who acknowledged the grievances of the residents, described the stretch of road as a dangerous area and a “death trap”, urging the government to urgently intervene to prevent further loss of lives.
Akinola also disclosed that the husband of the deceased woman was a stakeholder in the community, describing the development as particularly painful for the community.
He said the deplorable condition of the road had compounded the safety challenges confronting residents, stressing the need for urgent government intervention.
The chairman called on the relevant authorities to address the condition of the road and ensure that measures were put in place to prevent further accidents.
The protest caused significant traffic disruption, with motorists, including cars and heavy-duty trucks, stranded on the route for several hours.
The situation was later brought under control after the police arrived at the scene and removed the pieces of wood and other materials used by the protesters to barricade the road, allowing traffic to resume.
The Commissioner of Police in Ekiti State, CP Michael Falade, also visited the scene in an effort to calm the protesters and prevent the situation from escalating.
The CP subsequently visited the family house of the woman who died in the accident.
At the time of his visit, preparations were underway for the burial of the deceased, with work already ongoing at her gravesite.
Speaking to the bereaved family and community members, the commissioner expressed concern over the incident and assured them that he would convey their grievances and concerns to the appropriate authorities.
The protesters called for urgent attention to the condition of the Ikere-Ado road, as well as stronger regulation of the activities of commercial motorcycle operators and their unions in the area.
Community members urged the government to act promptly, warning that failure to address the safety concerns could result in more deaths on the road.
They also called for a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding Thursday’s accident, particularly the allegations concerning the conduct of the motorcycle union member and the involvement of the truck.
