By Olakunle Oyedunmola | Kwara
It was a sad atmosphere at Post Office area, Ilorin on Thursday, November 4, 2021 when a middle-aged man, identified as Usman Bello was crushed to death around 9:30am.
National Telescope gathered that Usman, who was a part-time driver and an unofficial hausa interpreter for revenue officers in the area slipped and fell before been crushed to death.
According to an eye witness, Mr. Yusuf Idris, who is a newspaper vendor, Usman was trying to help interprete Hausa to the Revenue Officers who issue Hackney Permit to truck drivers at Post Office area when the unfortunate incident occured.
He disclosed that the deceased while on his usual Hausa interpretation duty, hanged alongside two other revenue officers on the trailer while accelerating slowly.
Idris said, “The trailer loaded with bags of local rice was caught in traffic at Post Office area when two Revenue Officers approached him to buy a ticket for the loads he carried.
“So during the discussion, the trailer and other vehicles were signalled by the KWARTMA officer to proceed. It was at that time, the revenue officers mounted the trailer from the driver’s side and asked him to park and pay for the ticket but he ignored them by accelerating.
“Initially Usman was not on the vehicle with the revenue officers but he rushed to them but mounted the fuel tank to talk to both parties. “While talking with them, the driver accelerated and Usman slipped and was eventually crushed to death by the truck.”
However, all attempts to stop the trailer driver proved abortive as he sped off after committing the crime.
The trailer was however chased and caught at Pipeline Junction, opposite Roemichs International School following a traffic gridlock.
This medium gathered that the driver was lynched by the angry mob and the trailer laden with bags of local rice was looted by eye witnesses.
When our reporter visited the residence of the deceased at Edun area of Ilorin around 1:20pm, family and friends of Usman were noticed weeping profusely while recollecting the sad incident and his last moments.
Speaking to National Telescope, the deceased’s younger sister, Mrs Bello Ayobami, said Usman was the bread winner of the family. She lamented that the family recently lost one of her younger brothers, a situation their mother is yet to recover from.
She however disclosed that the remains of Usman has been buried according to Islamic injunctions.
When contacted by our reporter, the Kwara State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Ajayi Okasanmi, said “The Vehicle crushed one Usman at Post Office Area, Ilorin, the passerby and eye witnesses tried to stop the driver but he refused to stop.
“While trying to escape, some people followed him and he was tracked at Pipeline junction beside Reomichs International School, where he met a heavy traffic and came down fighting the KWARTMA officers for not passing their side. When the people arrived the scene, the driver and his two conductors were manhandled.
“They were about to set the vehicle ablaze when the Police arrived and stopped them. The driver and his boys were also rescued.
Speaking further, the PPRO said, “The KWARTMA officers attacked by the trailer drived have been taking to General Hospital for medical attention and also the driver has been taking to Police Clinic for medical attention.
“The vehicle is now at the Police station and the two conductors are in Police Custody,” he added.
Meanwhile, the departed, Usman Bello, 39, hailed from Isale Akanni, Edun Area, Ilorin, Kwara State.
He is survived by his wife, three kids, aged mother and siblings.
