Several passengers died on Saturday evening in an accident involving two Mazda buses at Serafu, Kilometer 2 cattle market, along Iseyin-Ibadan express road.
Witnesses told City News that the bus coming from Saki, in Oke-Ogun toward Ibadan, collided with the bus going toward Iseyin, the gateway to Oke-Ogun area of the state.
The National President, Iseyin Development Union, Alhaji Bayo Raji, who was among the rescue team, said many lives were lost and properties damaged in the accident along the newly reconstructed 76km road.
Raji said the bodies of the victims were taken to FADOK hospital, close to Iseyin Divisional Police Headquarters, Okutapemo, where people were identifying the victims.
“On Saturday evening, about 18 passengers and the drivers of two Mazda buses died in a head-on collision at the Kilometer 2 cattle market at Iseyin.
“We pray for the souls of the dead in this ghastly accident and other incidents that have claimed lives, limbs and properties because of over-speeding by drivers along our roads,’’ Raji said.
But the Public Education Officer of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Oyo State, Mr Paul Okoduwa, said only nine people died in the accident.
He told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday that 25 persons were involved in the crash which resulted from over speeding by two commercial vehicles.
Okoduwa said that those that died were six males and three females, while nine males and six females sustained varying degrees of injuries.
Only one occupant did not sustain injuries, he said.
He said the buses were a Mazda with registration number YRE 124 XA and a Toyota Hiace with registration number BDJ 400 YK..
He added that the dead had been deposited in a mortuary at a private hospital while those who sustained injuries were being treated at Our Lady Hospital, Iseyin.
Reacting to the accident, the Aseyin of Iseyin, Oba Abdganiy Salawudeen Adekunle called on motorists to value human lives and exercise patience during the months that end the year.
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