16 policemen burnt to death in auto crash

BY DEMOLA AKINYEMI
ILORIN — SIXTEEN policemen, who had just passed out of Police College were yesterday burnt to death at Omua-Aran area of Kwara State following an auto crash involving a Mercedes Benz car and Hummer bus.

Eye witnesses told Vanguard that the accident occurred at about 9:00 a.m in front of the Federal Government Girls College, Omu-Aran in Irepodun Local Government Area of the state.

The Toyota Hummer bus which the policemen chattered was travelling from Ilorin to Nasarawa State, while the Mercedes Benz car with number plate Kaduna AB 347 BKA was coming from the opposite direction and rammed into the “police vehicle.”

It was said the impact caused the fire to erupt. Rescuers were said to have arrived too late as the two vehicles were said to have been burnt into ashes before their arrival.

However, there were three survivors who were rushed to Omu-Aran General Hospital where they are receiving treatment.

Vanguard checks also revealed that the policemen were indigenes of Kwara who were trained in Lagos.They reportedly made a detour to Ilorin enroute Nasarawa State where they were allegedly posted to before they met their untimely death.

Confirming the accident, the Police Public Relations Officer, Fabode Femi, who said the police were aware of the accident, however, added that he was yet to confirm the number of casualty.

He assured that he would brief the press as soon as he was able to get the accurate figure of the victims.