By Bamidele Aremu
A devastating hit-and-run accident has claimed the life of a young boy in Ilorin, the capital city of Kwara State. The incident occurred on Friday at approximately 8:46 pm along the Ilorin-Ogbomosho road.
According to the eyewitness, Mr Marshal Alaro, who disclosed the sad incident via his Facebook profile on Saturday, disclosed that the young boy had alighted from a tricycle and was attempting to cross the road when a speeding truck came from nowhere and struck him with great force. The impact was so severe that the boy sustained serious injuries, including head injury, and was left lying helpless on the road.
“Yesterday night, a tragic hit-and-run accident occurred when a young boy alighted from a tricycle and was hit by a truck. he was rushed to the hospital,
where we battled for his life alongside the doctors. Despite their best efforts, we lost him. The doctors informed us that they lacked a specialist for head injuries and could only provide first aid before referring us to general hospital Oke Oyi for better care. We urge the government to take note of this incident and employ necessary personnel to address such critical needs. Losing vulnerable lives is detrimental to any state,” Alaro wrote in a post made on his Facebook profile.
The Kwara State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Mr. Mufutau Irekeola, on Monday confirmed the incident to National Pilot saying; ‘Yes, it’s true. When we received the distress call, our men swung into action. Investigations are ongoing, and though the identity of the victim is yet to be revealed, we will get to the bottom of this and ensure that justice is served”
The FRSC sector commander also emphasized the need for road users to exercise caution and adhere to traffic rules to prevent such accidents.
“Road safety is a collective responsibility, and we must all do our part to prevent accidents and save lives. We urge drivers to always be mindful of pedestrians and other road users, especially at night when visibility is poor.” he added.
