A 12-year-old girl, Toyosi Ademola, was on Tuesday evening, hit by a truck at Uselu Lagos Road, near Uselu Market in Benin City, Edo State.
The accident happened around 6:00 p.m. when the Primary 5 pupil of Oba Ewuare Primary School was standing by the pavement after crossing the road from the market. The truck, coming from the Ugbowo-Lagos road axis into Benin, hit her while she was waiting to cross to the other side.
Eyewitnesses reported that the truck had mechanical issues. The driver, trying to control the vehicle, veered off the road and hit the pavement, causing the accident that killed Toyosi on the spot. The truck, marked T9404 LA, belonged to a haulage company in Lagos. Security agencies were present at the scene to prevent residents and motorists from damaging the vehicle.
Toyosi’s distraught mother, Ade, was with her daughter when the incident happened. She explained, “We crossed from the Uselu market to the middle of the road on the pavement that divides the road, waiting to cross over to the other side towards S&T Barracks road where we live, when the truck veered off and hit my daughter, killing her on the spot. She was in Primary 5 and a student of Oba Ewuare Primary School. We went to buy things for my akara business when it happened.”
Her father, Mr. Ademola, who was at work at the time, said he received a call informing him of the accident. “The truck had mechanical issues and hit my daughter standing on the pavement with her mother. Her remains are now in the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) morgue, and the driver is in custody at the Textile Mill Road Police Division.”
Ademola, who lives at No 46 S&T Barracks Road, opposite Uselu market, appealed for help from well-meaning Nigerians and Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki. He said, “We need assistance to bury our child and support for our other children.”
