Unrest as vehicle carrying inmates crushes six in Ilorin

Five people were said to have been crushed at the Emirs Market and another one along Niger Road in Ilorin while the driver was trying to escape mob action.

News Agency of Nigeria • October 19, 2023

NCoS vehicle coveying inmates[Credit: Afrika Eyes]

There was pandemonium in the Ilorin metropolis on Thursday as a vehicle belonging to the Nigerian Correctional Services and conveying inmates to court was involved in an accident.

The accident was with a tricycle and a motorcycle at Emirs Market (Oja-Oba), Ilorin.

According to a witness, AbdulRaheem Salami, the accident occurred in the early hours of Thursday and reportedly crushed six people, who were rushed to the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital.

He said five people were said to have been crushed at the Emirs Market and another one along Niger Road in Ilorin while the driver was trying to escape mob action.

Mr Salami added that the degree of injuries sustained could not be ascertained as they were rushed to the hospital immediately.

A resident of the area who pleaded anonymity said a mob disenchanted with the happening attacked and vandalised the bus escorting the inmates’ vehicle to court.

He added that the van conveying the inmates escaped from the accident scene to its destination without any hitch.

He added that the accident led to a protest by some Okada riders in the Ilorin metropolis.

Speaking with reporters on the incident, AbdulAkeem Sulaiman, the zonal spokesperson of the Motorcycle Riders Association in the state, urged the government to ensure justice for their members.

Mr Sulaiman appealed to the authority of the Nigeria Correctional Service and the state government to intervene in the matter and ensure justice is done.

Confirming the incident, the state police spokesperson, SP Ajayi Okasanmi, said normalcy had been restored in the areas where the protest occurred.

He said the police would take necessary steps to ensure justice was done to those affected in the incident.

In a statement, the state NCoS public relations officer, Philip Adegbulugbe, claimed that the suspected hoodlums attempted to free high-profile inmates being conveyed to court in the area, which resulted in pandemonium.

The correctional service personnel were able to manoeuvre their way to the court.

However, those who sustained injuries have been moved to the hospital for medical attention and are responding to treatment, and no life was lost.

(NAN)

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