TRUCK SMASHES 15-YEAR-OLD BOY TO DEATH IN ABEOKUTA

A truck belonging to a construction company, China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation, on Tuesday reportedly crushed a 15-year-old boy, identified simply as Imisioluwa, to death at Oke-Ijeun, in the Sapon area of Abeokuta.

Three other siblings of Imisioluwa ─ Ayomipo, Ayomide, and Nifemi ─ escaped death by a whisker.

Our correspondent gathered that the deceased had gone to pick his siblings from school and they were crossing the road when the truck rammed into them.

Imisioluwa was said to have died instantly while his younger siblings escaped death, but suffered varying degrees of injuries.

The truck, residents said, drove against the traffic when the incident occurred.

Angry passersby and residents were reported to have vandalised the truck and were about to set it ablaze when the police arrived at the scene and dispersed them.

The driver of the vehicle was also beaten by the mob.

The state Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Olamilekan Adegbite, was said to have visited the scene.

Those who sustained injuries were rushed to the General Hospital, Ijaiye, Abeokuta, for treatment, while the deceased had been buried.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, confirmed the incident on the telephone on Wednesday.

He said the incident occurred at about 2pm, adding that the deceased and his younger siblings crossed the road without properly observing the traffic.

Adejobi, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, said the driver of the truck was arrested and detained at the Ibara Police Station, but had been released to go for medical treatment having been beaten by the mob that gathered after the incident.

He said, “The truck has been taken to the Ibara Police Station. We are on the case and I want to assure that justice will be done.”