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Tag: ibadan

  • Flood hits Ibadan, renders many homeless

    . ..30 buildings affected as many rendered homeless

     

    Hundreds of residents of Ibadan , Oyo state capital suffered losses following a torrential rain fall that flooded no fewer than 30 homes on Sunday.

    Many residents , it was gathered on Sunday have started relocating from Ososami, Oke-Ado and Aresa areas of Ibadan , where the water level were reportedly high.

    Some of the victims of the flood have been rendered homeless as they claimed they have no other means to secure new apartments .

    Property worth several millions of naira went down in the raging flood streaming from the Ogunpa river which channels were visibly blocked by sewage .

    The downpour which started around 4.30pm on Sunday lasted for about four hours , leaving many areas flooded .

    A two storey building and a church ( Christ Apostolic Church) at Omigade street, Osasami , Ibadan in Ibadan South West Local Government were damaged as the rain pulled down a stretch of the buildings’ fence .

    When our reporter visited some of the affected areas, many people were found outside with their properties , trying to dry clean some of the savaged properties such as foams , chairs, carpets and clothes among others.

    A resident, Mr Abdulkareem Subair who also suffered losses in the flood said ” I was inside my room when the rain started at about 4.30pm . After some time , one of my sons called out , saying that there was water covering everywhere . That was when me and others in the room came out and found out that we have been trapped by flood inside the house. The entire area have been covered by water , so we started scooping water and trying to free the drainages around to pave way for the water. It was a terrible experience . As am talking to you we don’t know where to sleep today as another rain is about to fall again”, he explained.

    Another victim, Mr Aminu Momoh who blamed the flooding on indiscriminate dumping of refuse on waterways and buildings nears water channels thanked God that no lives were lost in the flood.

    According to him, the story would have been different if it had happened in the night .

    Momoh who was busy packing out his flooded household goods for washing and drying , narrated how a wall fence fell in the building , and how the entire ground floor was flooded by water , saying the whole building would have been covered and lives lost if people had gone to bed.

    A Christ Apostolic Church building at Ososami was completely flooded . The members were said to be full of gratitude to God that they were not in service when the incident occurred.

    As at the time of filling this report,  another flooding has occurred in Ibadan following the downpour which happened on Monday.

    The areas affected are Oke-Ado, Liberty Road, Ososami and Oke-Ayo areas of Ibadan.

  • UI releases date for Post-UTME screening

    The management of the University of Ibadan, Ibadan on Wednesday said it has picked September 14 and 15 for its 2018/2019 post-UTME screening exercise.

    The Vice Chancellor of the university, Professor Idowu Olayinka made this disclosure via a statement issued on Wednesday, and made available to newsmen in Ibadan.

    Olayinka in the statement said, “This is to inform all prospective candidates for the 2018/19 admission exercise who have successfully uploaded their biodata/credentials that the post UTME screening will come up on Friday, 14 and Saturday, 15 September 2018. Please note that only candidates who scored 200 and above are eligible for the exercise.

    Read Also: UNILAG begins post-UTME screening

    “Furthermore, with effect from 2017/18 session, the institutional cut off mark of 200 is applicable to all the institutions affiliated to the University of Ibadan.

    “Contrary to insinuations in some quarters that the cut-off mark for our affiliated institutions is 180, the University wishes to reiterate that, as approved by the Senate of the University of Ibadan, 200 is the cut-off mark for both the main campus and the affiliated institutions.

    “For the avoidance of doubt, the newly introduced Central Admission Processing System CAPS) by JAMB makes it practically impossible for candidates below the institutional cut- off mark to be offered admission.

    “Candidates who scored 200 and above at the UTME and who wish to change to any of our affiliated institutions are welcome to do so. A list of these institutions is available on our website (ui.edu.ng)”.

  • Undue haste

    It is difficult for someone to comment on the face-off between the Oyo State government and ace musician, Mr Yinka Ayefele, without at least a tinge of emotions. And I guess that was one thing the Oyo State government did not reckon with or simply ignored or underrated in the build-up to the avoidable imbroglio. Yes, imbroglio because it has become messy. Governor Abiola Ajimobi can only claim not to be perturbed by the criticisms of his government over its demolition of parts of the Music House where Ayefele’s broadcasting station, the Fresh FM based in Ibadan, the state capital, is situated, only if (to recall the Yoruba saying) he has eaten the head of a tortoise. I have the feeling that the governor is just grandstanding in his statement that being handicapped is not an excuse for someone to break the law. Something tells me that if Governor Ajimobi is not already reflecting that he could have handled the matter differently, he would do so sometime in the future. Indeed, if there is anything going for Ayefele now, it is the fact the he is perceived as the underdog that is being harassed by the almighty state government. Simply put, Ayefele is riding on the crest of being an underdog in the matter.

    As a Yoruba man, I guess the governor must be aware of the proverb o na mi ko dun mi; ko dabi ara ofo. In other words, there is a difference between someone that was flogged and says he did  not feel the pain and the person that was not flogged at all. The point I am making is that the state government does not need the kind of negative publicity that the demolition generated; it is not good for its image at all, this is much more so when it is avoidable. I do not know what the state government would have lost if it had tarried for the case in court over the matter to be decided. If the government had waited this long, why couldn’t it wait a little longer for the court’s pronouncement?

    But this appears the predictable pattern in governments across the country. They appear to be ever ready and willing to show their ‘tigretude’ (apologies to Prof Wole Soyinka), sometimes even over inconsequential matters. I remember the story of one of the south west governors a few years ago who had gone to a trouble spot on the prompting of some local politicians in the state who told ‘His Excellency’ that he had to go there in order to  impress it on the trouble makers and their ilk who might be thinking of formenting trouble in future that he is the executive governor of the state! Pray, is there a non-executive governor? Can there be two governors in a state?  It is instructive that no life was lost when the governor’s wife who had earlier gone to the place visited. But when ‘His Excellency’ decided to go on a ‘reconnaissance mission’, a student was killed in the ensuing fracas. I wonder how, till today, the parents of that student would feel whenever they remember the sad incident. I wonder too if the said governor would still have handled the situation the same way if confronted with it today.

    But that is the way of many of our political leaders. The kind of people that mill around them, the praise orchestra who clap for ‘Their Excellencies’ when they know in their heart of hearts that what their principals are about doing would have negative consequences on the government they are serving. Some of those who chose to be bold to tell it as it is would either get fired or the governors would keep them at an arm’s length, if they cannot fire them outright.

    Although Oyo State government’s partial demolition of Ayefele’s property at about 5.30 a.m. last Sunday was not the first such demolition in the early hours, those of us out of government should be asking why most governments find it convenient to carry out such tasks at such ungodly hours. When in February, the Kaduna State government pulled down the building of Senator Suleiman Hunkuyi , a property used as the secretariat of a faction of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kaduna, it was done at about 5.00 a.m.

    Then, in the Ayefele’s case, the man had approached an Oyo State High Court sitting in Ibadan seeking to stop the demolition. His counsel, Mr Olayinka Bolanle, in an exparte motion, filed before the court, sought for an order restraining the state government from demolishing the property pending the determination of the suit. He added that due process was followed in the construction of the structure while relevant approvals were obtained from the state’s departments and agencies associated with land and housing. Justice I. Yerima, in his wisdom, ordered the claimant to ensure service of the court process on the respondent and adjourned the case till Monday for the hearing of the ex-parte motion. But the court process would appear to have been aborted as the state government demolished the structure on Sunday.

    I wish there is a way the courts could be punishing persons and institutions that treat court orders disdainfully. In several respects, the impunity that the Oyo State government demonstrated in violating the court order is what many governments, including the Federal Government, do. Yes, we could say Ayefele preempted the government’s determination to bring down his building, hence his rushing to court when he did when, actually, the issue did not just start today. So, why did he wait till now before going to court? But then, there is no time that an aggrieved party cannot go to court to seek redress. The moment Ayefele had gone to court, the government, as a law-abiding entity, ought to have suspended action on the property, at least pending the resolution of the matter. Our politicians should not give the impression that the courts matter only when their votes are stolen or election figures are altered in favour of their opponents.

    Another common trend is that of governments taking on their opponents in the most cynical manner. Fresh FM might have been critical of the state government; that does not necessarily make it an enemy of the government. Even if it is an enemy; that is no excuse for the government to clamp down on it the way it did. After all, as we are seeing all over the country in the shameless defections by many of our politicians, there are no permanent friends or foes. What has remained permanent is the interest of the individual politician, not even that of their constituencies. At any rate, should a media house be friend to any particular government? Shouldn’t it carry out its functions as it deemed fit? Where then is objectivity if a station has to be a permanent friend of a government?

    But nothing I have said so far should be taken as support for Ayefele, especially if he violated any building code. I love Ayefele’s music like millions of other Nigerians. But that would not make me support illegality on his part, or on the part of anyone for that matter. I perfectly understand the consequences of people violating building codes. But I am worried more because we are in a democracy and the government should be a little more sensitive to the public mood in many of the decisions it wants to take. This is not necessarily saying it should be led by it. Then the courts; our political leaders should accord them more respect. But we do not seem to have much of that anywhere in the country now. And it is worrisome.

  • NBC condemns demolition of Fresh FM by Oyo govt.

    The National Broadcasting Commission (NNBC ) has condemned the demolition of the structure housing the Fresh FM in Ibadan by the Oyo State Government.

    The Director-General of NBC, Ishaq Midibbo-Kawu, who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ilorin, said the demolition was a worrisome development and did not speak well of the state government.

    The structure, “Music House, ” reportedly valued at N800 million and which had been in operation for 10 years, was demolished in the early hours of Sunday.

    The property is owned by a popular musician, Yinka Ayefele.

    Kawu said: “The development is worrisome because for all it is worth, the broadcast outfits are playing a big role in reducing unemployment, especially in this situation where many young Nigerians are idle.

    “They also play social, informational, educational and entertaining roles in the society.

    “Such development does not speak well of the government and has a negative effect on the nation, especially at a point when more broadcasting outfits are influencing the social space in the country.

    “In this case particularly, there are so many issues that can be weaved up negatively by people.

    “We hope that as we move forward, we will be able to find a solution to the situation,” Modibbo-Kawu said.

    The director-general said when the NBC got hint of the demolition, he made some contacts with some people in the state.

    Kawu said that he could, however, not stop it.

    The NBC boss promised to set up a meeting with the state government on finding a way forward on the issue.

    The NBC boss recalled a similar experience in Nasarawa State about a year ago when the property housing Breeze 99.9 FM was demolished.

    “What we did was to meet our licensee to find out what the issues were because he was prepared to go to court.

    “We also met with the state Commissioner for Information and the Governor.

    “The issue also was that the building violated the usage of urban space.

    “We were able to reach an agreement that the government should give the broadcaster a new plot of land and assist him to go back to building a new station.

    “However, just last week, I got a letter that the side of the government in the agreement had not been fulfilled,” he said.

    Modibbo-Kawu also clarified the recent media report that his commission banned some songs, saying Nigerians must understand the statutory mandate of the NBC.

    “It is important to let Nigerians understand that NBC does not ban any song.

    “I read on social media platforms all the time that NBC banned a song; the commission never bans any song.

    “What NBC does all the time is to remind our licensees that there are certain categorisation of music that are important in broadcasting.

    “If a song is categorised, “Not To Be Broadcast” (NTBB) because of the lyrics of the song, then, we will remind the broadcasters that they cannot be broadcast.

    “This is what it is misinterpreted in the social media that we banned the song,” he said

    The director general also refuted the allegation that NBC was “carrying out a Jihad on Nigerian songs” based on a petition by a faith-based human rights organisation, Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC).

    He stressed that the NBC did not carry out any Jihad, but only responded to a song on a radio station because it had lyrics that were NTBB.

    Kawu gave an assurance that the Federal Government, through the NBC, would not infringe on artistic liberty or licence.

    He, however, reminded artistes and broadcast organisations of their responsibilities to Nigerians and the youths, in particular.

    “Last week, I issued a press release to urge Nigerian artistes to have different versions of their songs.

    “They should do a version that can be used for public broadcast space and another version for club usage which can carry all kinds of lyrics that they want.

    “If they want their songs to be broadcast on radio and television in Nigeria, these songs must conform to rules and must be songs that young people can listen to,” he said.

    He disclosed that the commission was planning a national dialogue with Nigeria leading artistes on the need to avoid vulgar lyrics and hate speeches in their songs.

    “The truth of the matter is that 75 per cent of our population is under the age of 35 while 63 per cent is under the age of 25, so we have a younger population.

    “If you go on Youtube, Olamide song, “Wo” has over 10 million hits.

    “ That tells you the kind of influence these young artistes have on all our children in the country.

    “They should help to orientate the young people on the right values.

    “If their songs celebrate sex, violence, the use of drugs, alcohol and fraud, then they are not helping in the moulding of young people

    “We believe that the young generation who listen to them can be guided through the use of their artistic works to play functional social purposes in the society,” he said.

    He said the dialogue would focus on the need for the artistes to use their music to propagate positive messages about development.

  • Ibadan: The king vs the bard (2)

    With lightning speed, the Ibadan King had moved to scupper the Ibadan bard — or how else do you explain the Oyo government’s pulling down of the disputed part of Gospel Juju maestro Yinka Ayefele’s  Music House?

    Hardball was only yesterday suing for calm and tact: the government should rein in action, given that the embattled Ayefele has sued; and the Ayefele side should stop further sensationalising the matter, to whip up public sentiments that further puts the government in bad light.

    Should anything untoward happen, Hardball warned, the emotive sentiments would amount to near-nothing, as Ayefele would be forced to bear his heavy cross all alone!  How prescient!

    When that piece was written last Friday, to be published yesterday, it was taught the Ayefele suit would freeze the matter and somewhat, tact would reign on both sides.

    The reverse has been the case, since the government has moved fast to demolish the offensive section of the building, with a stunning image of Ayefele, on his wheel chair, watching bulldozer demolish his years of sweat!  How sad!

    But even immediate post-tragedy, the reaction has been more of passion — unsurprisingly so!  Many wail Ayefele was physically challenged; and it was most wicked for the government, the all-powerful Leviathan, to crush his business.  Indeed!

    Others claim, even from the wheel chair, Ayefele employs and feeds many, from the many ventures in the Music House, part of which is the popular Fresh FM radio, as well as recording studios.  Tragic!

    Still, would Ayefele have any defence, if the structure well and truly contravened urban planning laws?  That is where soft emotions dry up and hard reason takes over.

    Still, that hardly justifies the Oyo government’s seeming rush to pull down the allegedly offensive section of Music House.

    “Seeming rush”, because the government side claims the matter has dragged on for more than one year; and that the final demolition notice was a final warning to a recalcitrant Ayefele side, who instead of approaching the government for some amicable settlement, was  playing to the gallery, whipping up anti-government public sentiments.

    This line suggests even the last-minute approach of the courts was in bad faith, since it was allegedly a cynical move to hold off the government from enforcing the law.

    Still, if the Oyo government had waited for one year, for a matter that had dragged on for much longer, why didn’t it exercise yet more patience, and wait for the courts to adjudicate the matter?  If it did, and it was right, it would still have got judicial cover to do the needful.

    Both sides have tragic faults, in this needless tragedy.  The government allowed itself to be provoked to a rash action, when a further wait would have been more dignifying. The Ayefele side also goaded disaster, by playing to the gallery, on a crucial asset. Both sides must have learned from their terrible mistakes.

    But to the courts both must return.  God save the government, if it has demolished Music House in error.  It may have committed taxpayers to a needless though grievous expense.

    But God help Ayefele too, if he truly infracted on the law.  It would amount to cruel double jeopardy.

    But this debacle, better managed, is totally avoidable.

  • Oyo denies knowledge of demolition of Ayefele’s music house

    The Oyo State Government on Monday denied demolishing the music house of gospel musician, Yinka Ayefele, in Ibadan.

    The state government, through its counsel, Mr Yomi Alliyu, made the denial when he appeared before Justice Iyabo Yerima of the State High Court, Ring Road, Ibadan, on Monday.

    Alliyu appeared for the first and second defendants, Gov. Abiola Ajimobi and Mr Bola Abimbola (State Attorney-General), in a case instituted by Ayefele against the defendants.

    The counsel said his clients were shocked to read about the reported demolition on Sunday morning.

    According to him, the state government is planning to set up a panel of enquiry to find out those responsible for the demolition.

    ”My clients are men of honour that respect rule of law and constituted authority and will have no reason to demolish the said property,” he told the court.

    Alliyu, who had earlier denied that his clients were served with court processes, quickly reversed himself when the judge showed him evidence of actual service on the first and second respondents.

    Read Also: Oyo government demolishes Ayefele’s Music House

    The defence counsel, however, urged the court to adjourn the case pending the time the claimant would be able to file and serve his clients with notice of the ex-parte motion since the court was on vacation.

    He said that filing of motion on notice and letter of urgency alone by the claimant was not enough.

    But the claimant’s counsel, Mr Olayinka Bolanle, had informed the court that the respondents had gone ahead to demolish the structure in spite of a court’s restraining order

    “Even after the defendants had become aware of this proceedings, it is sad and unbelievable my Lord that the defendants in the wee hours of Sunday, Aug 19, went to the property in dispute and demolished it,” he told the court.

    The claimant’s counsel urged the court to reiterate its earlier order restraining the defendants from further demolition of the rest of the structure pending the determination of the suit.

    Justice Yerima adjourned the case until Sept. 12 for hearing of applications and urged parties to file necessary processes before the adjourned date.

  • Ibadan: the king vs the bard

    In Yoruba culture — and in many African cultures as well — the tension between the king and the bard is always real, almost palpable.

    On the power lane, the king is sovereign.  But on the psychological lane, which needs music to fully attune, and access the right mood, the bard is near-Leviathan.  That explains the rascality of gangan drummers who often, with impish pleasure, could strafe the Oba with coded warnings, even as the Kabiyesi executes his royal dance, to thunderous cheer.

    It’s a traditional cohabitation built on mutual respect, and a strict check-and-balance system, anchored on culture.

    That brings  the discourse to the current excitement in Ibadan, between the Oyo State government and Juju music ace, Ayefele, over a notice to demolish the musician’s Music House at Challenge by-pass, over alleged town planning infractions.

    Now, Ayefele jumps at you as the blind seer, in King Odewale’s presence in Ola

    Rotimi’s The Gods Are Not To Blame.  When the seer tried to say he was blind, the king told him to shove it.

    The cock claims it has not teeth, yet gobbles polished corn.  The goat that has teeth, but what does it eat?  Common grass!  The seer might be blind, but he sure saw more than most full-visioned folks!

    Though wheelchair-ridden, no thanks to an auto crash that almost took his life, Ayefele has carved a niche for himself, with his infectious juju gospel genre, where his stupendous good looks complement his audacious melody, in sheer musical poetry.  That has proved a crowd catcher; which has made him some living legend in his Ibadan community.

    So, when such a popular star and folk hero tussles with the powers-that-be, over whatever issues, it’s bound to generate intense public attention.  Unfortunately, these controversies would often degenerate into a top dog versus underdog emotive spat, from which the truth is the first casualty.

    It is good Ayefele has headed for the courts to adjudicate the matter.  That’s a sane path to tread.  But it is neither an advantage or a disadvantage.  The courts would establish which party — Ayefele or the state government? — is wrong or right; and would rule by the force of facts presented before it.

    That is why escalating the issue into a public controversy makes no sense.  Neither is it wise for presenters on Fresh FM to whip up emotive sentiments.  The artiste must know his hard-earned asset could be at stake here.  All those rippling and thundering over the matter would vanish, should there be any unpleasant consequences.  It’s the artiste that would bear his cross — all alone.

    As for the Oyo government, isn’t there a way the problem could be rectified, without demolition?  Inasmuch as the government could be under duty to tilt to whichever side the law and public safety tilt, both sides should explore possibilities of some mutual accommodation.  And Ayefele should please squarely face his music.  That’s his calling and should leave politics to politicians.

    We need the king to assure us all that we are secure.  But we also need the bard to guarantee our collective sanity.  Both should work together for the good of the people.

  • Motorists stranded on Lagos-Ibadan expressway

    Motorists traveling out of Lagos were stranded on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway for hours today, due to a tanker trailer that fell across the road.

    Though the immediate cause of the accident could not be ascertained as at the time of this report, the incident affected the free flow of traffic.

    A correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), who was on the route, reports that it took about six hours for motorists to move from Berger Bus Stop to Mowe, a distance of about five kilometers.

    The traffic started moving at Mowe long after the tanker trailer was cleared off the road around 1.30 pm, but by that time, a lot of travelers had been exhausted.

  • Lautech: ASUU Ibadan, Lagos zones protest in oyo

    Academic workers union under the aegis of Academic Staff Union of Universities ( ASUU )  from the Lagos and Ibadan zones on Friday staged a peaceful protest across Ibadan, the Oyo state capital city on what they described as the continuous neglect of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomosho.

    The protesters who gathered at the headquarters office of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Agodi Gate, carrying placards walked through Total Garden –UCH-and terminated at the Oyo State Secretariat, Agodi Ibadan where they delivered a letter of protest to the Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi.

    Institutions under the Lagos zone include, University of Lagos, Lagos State University, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Tai Solarin University of Education and University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, while the University of Ibadan, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Osun State University, Kwara State University and University of Ilorin makes up the Ibadan zone of the Union.

    The protesters were led by both the Ibadan and Lagos zonal leader of the union. Inscriptions on some of the placards read, “Aregbe, Ajimobi, do not kill the best state University in Nigeria”, “What is Omoluabi in not funding education”, “Education is the heritage of Yoruba’s, do not kill Lautech”, ASUU Lagos Zone demands adequate funding for Lautech, Ogbomosho, and fund education in Nigeria”, “ASUU Lautech, Ogbomosho says Lautech must not be liquidated. Governors Ajimobi/Aregbesola, release funds to Lautech as advocated by Wole Olanipekun visitation panel” and “You are all products of free public education, do not destroy it.”

    Other placards read, “Do not sacrifice Lautech for mushrooming Tech U”, “Oyo/Osun People, shine your eyes, Lautech must not die”, “KPMG did not recommend increase in tuition, stop taking education away from the reach of the masses”, “Aare Atunluse and Ogbeni, do not destroy public education”, “Do not sell Lautech. Lautech is not a commodity.”, “Support Lautech Governing Council by making funds available” and “Do not put the lives of 30,000 students of Lautech in jeopardy. Aregbesola, Ajimobi act fast”.

    Speaking on the rationale behind the protest, ASUU UI Chairman, Dr. Deji Omole said the protest is in support of the struggle embarked upon by the academic staff unions of Lautech, Ogbomosho to get the university properly funded, saying “we realized that since the beginning of the administration of Aregbesola and Ajimobi, they have simply refused to fund the university. The university that used to be one of the best state universities in Nigeria is now groaning in pains of underfunding. And we view this as gross irresponsibility on the part of the owner states. We are here to register our protest to the way the university has been treated by Ajimobi and Aregbesola.”

    Similarly, the Ibadan Zonal Coordinator, Dr Ade Adejumo said the government insistence that the institution can survive on internally generated funds is the peak of irresponsibility noting that Lautech as a public institution must be funded by public funds which are in the coffer of the government.

    Receiving the protesters on behalf of the Governor Abiola Ajimobi, the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Dr Gbade Ojo assured the protesters of the commitment of the owner state governors.

    Noting that, his service as the Chairman of the government committee set up to generate a white paper on the report of the Wole Olanipekun visitation panel on the institution, Ojo assuage the minds of the protesters that many discoveries and revelation on the institution shows gross mismanagement of funds, appealing to the protesters to poke their nose into the affairs and running of the institution by the management and the governing council.

    Assuring the university lecturers that the letter will be transmitted to the governor, the CoS disclosed that “in the last few weeks, the government has increased the subventions given to the institutions in Oyo state with some tertiary institutions in Oyo state getting as much as 80 percent of the subventions”, saying it is an indication of the government commitment to improving education in the state.

  • Smuggler’s vehicle crushes Okada rider in Ibadan

    A smuggler’s vehicle on Sunday night crushed a commercial motorcycle (Okada) rider on Abeokuta-Ibadan Expressway and injured a mother of three.

    The injured mother is at the Emergency Unit of the University College Hospital (UCH) in Ibadan, Oyo State capital.

    The accident, which caused commotion on the single-lane expressway, occurred near Eleso town.

    An eyewitness said the vehicle was from Abeokuta, while the commercial motorcycle was from Omi Adio.

    It was learnt the victim, identified simply as Ogba, became a father to a boy two months ago.

    On the scene were scores of residents, including relatives and friends of the deceased, commercial motorcycle riders and passers-by.

    They mourned Ogba.

    Also, the wreckage of the motorcycle and the vehicle were on the scene yesterday.

    The ill-fated vehicle, an Opel saloon car, was loaded with 24 bags of 50 kilogrammes imported rice believed to have been smuggled.

    The driver of the vehicle, who escaped unhurt, was reportedly detained at Omi-Adio Police Station.

    Some sympathisers blamed the accident on over-loading and speeding.

    The driver of the vehicle, registered as (Ogun) WDE 672 XA, was said to have lost control at a bend, causing the vehicle to somersault several times before crashing into the on-coming commercial motorcycle with the rider and passenger.

    Aggrieved youths attempted to burn the vehicle but the elders prevented them.

    But the youth destroyed some bags of rice before some policemen towed the vehicle, the motorcycle and remaining bags to the police station.

    It was gathered the remains of the deceased commercial motorcycle operator, which was conveyed to the police station on Sunday night, was given to the family yesterday for burial.