It was a black weekend in Ondo State as about 11 people lost their lives in boat mishap and auto crash, which occurred in different parts of the state.
Five seafood traders drowned and died when their boat capsized, while on transit on the waterways to transact business at a market in the coastal community of Ugbo-Nla in the Ilaje Local Council of the state.
The Guardian gathered that only the rescued trader out of those on the boat wore a life jacket, even after the incident.
According to the National President of Ondo State Fishermen Association of Nigeria, Benedict Orioye Gbayisemore, the only survivor was putting on a life jacket, which he said made the effort to rescue him easy.
He said: “Their boat capsized, and five of the travelers died, while only one person was rescued due to the use of a life jacket.”
While commiserating with the families and relatives of the deceased, Gbayisemore, who harped on the essence of life jackets for commuters on waterways, appealed to the government to enforce compliance across the coastal communities in the state.
“The lone survivor in the Ugbo Nla boat mishap had the foresight to wear a life jacket before setting out on the ill-fated trip. The life jacket was vital to his survival, keeping him buoyant until rescuers arrived.
“This tragic event serves as a critical call to the government to enforce the mandatory use of life jackets, and by so doing, the government can prevent future tragedies and create a safer environment for all water commuters,” he said.
ALSO, six people died in Ikaram-Akoko, in Akoko North West Local Council of the state, when an 18-passenger Jos-bound Toyota Hiace bus with registration number DKA 256 XY had a lone accident.
According to an eyewitness, the ill-fated bus, which was travelling at top speed, lost control after one of its tires burst.
The eyewitness, who simply gave her name as Monisola, added that other passengers sustained injuries.
Men of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Ikare-Akoko unit, and police operatives from Oke-Agbe Akoko division, as well as sympathisers, were said to have been involved in the rescue operations.
Six bodies were evacuated from the accident scene and deposited at the morgue, while the injured victims were taken to the emergency ward of the State Specialist Hospital, Ikare-Akoko.
Reacting, the paramount ruler of Ikaram-Akoko, Oba Andrew Momodu, said the community had, on several occasions, approached the Federal Ministry of Works to construct speed breakers around the junction where accidents usually occur.
