By Adenike Lawal
A brake failure involving a Mitsubishi Canter truck led to a fatal accident early Friday morning at the Offa Garage Roundabout in Ilorin, Kwara State, leaving one pedestrian dead, two others injured, and five vehicles damaged.
The incident, which occurred around 8:00 a.m. on the busy Ilorin-Ajase Ipo road, involved a blue and green truck carrying gallons of palm oil. The vehicle lost control and rammed into the AP filling station, uprooting one fuel pump and damaging another, according to eyewitnesses.
“The deceased pedestrian’s body has been removed from the scene, the injured victims have been transported to nearby hospitals, and the affected vehicles have been impounded for investigation,” said Gani Olawoye, the Public Relations Officer of the Kwara State Road Maintenance Agency (KWARTMA), which took over the case from the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC).
KWARTMA confirmed that the truck, with registration number SMK 801 XT, suffered a sudden brake malfunction while in motion, resulting in the deadly crash. The driver, identified as Nasiru, survived unhurt, but two others were wounded.
KWARTMA’s Acting General Manager, Engr. Michael Bamidele, emphasized the importance of routine vehicle maintenance. “We urge all motorists, especially truck drivers, to ensure their vehicles are well-maintained to prevent such catastrophic failures,” he said.
In response to the incident, authorities also instructed beggars in the area to vacate the roundabout to prevent further casualties in case of similar occurrences.
