Sunday, 4 September 2022

The collapsed Opo bridge claims life


Not the exact pix
The  bridge, with a deck defect,  over Òpó River ín Ijaregbe, Oriade Local Government has claimed the life of a commercial motorcyclist and injured two others

Eyewitnesses account reveals that the, the motorcyclist  whose identity is yet unknown as at the time of filing this report was at top speed when he lost control of the bike and  plunged into the river while his passengers, a woman and her child  fell by the culvert  with  the motorcycle.

” the woman told us that he warned the motorcyclist to beware of the cracks in the bridge but the warning fell on  his deaf hear until he paid for his action with his  dear life and almost ended theirs as a result of his stiff-neckedness.” the eyewitness said.

According to the report the passengers who sustained various degrees of  injuries and the motorcycle were rescued   by some passers-by, but the rider was not that lucky as effort to get him out of the river alive since Friday failed.

It was gathered that the unregistered bike was  taken to the palace of the Ajaregbe who took it to Ibokun Police Divisional Headquarters  for safety

The DPO, CSP Olusegun Atanda confirmed the incident saying the his men are on top of the situation.

It will be recalled that the residents last month attributed the bridge defect to the unwholesome mining activities in the area, urging the state government to expedite action on its repair to avert avoidable death.

Meanwhile,  the Olomu of Ijaregbe, ọba Edward Adetimo has pleaded with the state and federal governments as well as the relevant agencies to come to the rescue of his community which he said had been cut off from the mainstream.

Oba Adetimo hinted that representatives of  the National Emergency Management Agency sometimes  was at the   scene of the incident last month for  an on the spot assessment of  the degree of damage

Oba Adetimo expressed concern that many more people may fall victims of the negligence if something drastic is not done was a matter of urgency to forestall more tragedies at the spot.

  “The NEMA people have come to look at the bridge, but nothing has been done since then we have also called attention of the local government to the imminent danger and we are waiting  for a response from local authorities “, he said

The traditional ruler regretted the negative impact of of the development on the social and  economic activities of his people majority of whom are agrarians.

Oba Adetimo said social life of the people has almost been reduced to zero as the youth now link  other towns and villages in the area, residents have to pass through Ìjẹ̀bú-Jẹ̀ṣà – Ilesa road, Ìjẹ̀bú-Jẹ̀ṣà – Ere – Ibokun tó get to Osogbo ‘ he lamented

By Haastrup 

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