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Mass burial for 17 Ladoja supporters who died in auto-crash in Ibada

By Iyabo Lawal, Ibadan
19 December 2009   |   3:42 am
EMOTIONS were high yesterday in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital as the remains of supporters of former Governor Rashidi Ladoja, who died in an auto crash on Saturday along Maya-Iseyin Road, were given a mass burial. The dead, 17 in all, including the driver, were burnt beyond recognition and were brought to the Sango Cemetery in the state capital, wrapped in white clothes where their remains were interred amidst sobs from relatives, politicians and associates who came to pay their last respect.

A blue Toyota Cabster with Registration Number Lagos KF975KJA conveyed the remains of the deceased persons to the cemetery where party supporters and family members were already waiting to receive them.

Some of the sympathisers who could not withstand the shock of the news fainted on sighting the remains of the deceased persons and were rushed to a nearby hospital where they were resuscitated while others fought back tears as the short burial rites were performed.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members were on their way to Okeho for the burial ceremony of one of the party chieftains, when one of the commercial buses conveying them rammed into a truck said to be fully loaded with petrol.

The collision resulted in a loud explosion, which immediately attracted flames from the tanker, burning all the occupants of the bus.

When the news of the accident filtered into town late on Saturday evening, relatives of those that travelled besieged the Bodija residence of the former governor to ascertain the fate of their loved ones.

It was a painful experience as family members waited in turn to hear if their breadwinners were in the bus or not.

The driver of the bus popularly called ‘Baba Ijebu’ was said to be on top speed while trying to negotiate a bend along Maya-Iseyin Road before crashing into an heavy-duty truck, the impact of which resulted in the explosion, leaving all the passengers dead.

 

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