THE relative peace that reigns at Iwo road interchange, Ibadan, was ruptured yesterday as some Vehicle Inspection Officers, VIO, caused the death of a motorcyclist who fell under a Lagos bound articulated vehicle which crushed his head instantly.
The VIO officials, whose manner of operations had been roundly condemned by motorists in the state, were said to be in hot pursuit of a commercial cab for alleged breach of traffic rules.
The taxi driver was said to have, in his escape bid, hit the motorcyclist whose brains littered the road.
This caused a breakdown of law and order as commercial motorcyclists mobilised and stormed the office of the VIO, destroying it in the process.
When Vanguard visited the scene, hundreds of sympathisers thronged the scene, with the women, among them, wailing.
An eyewitness said: “While the VIOs stopped the driver of the taxi for a routine check and he wanted to run away, he hit the Okada man who unfortunately swerved right underneath the trailer which overran him and killed him on the spot.”
Seeing what their actions had caused, the VIOs ran away from the scene, claiming that they were chasing the trailer driver who escaped towards Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
When the angry motorcyclists got to the office of VIO at Idi-Ape, they broke some windows, louvres and bottles of soft drinks.
It was learned that the quick intervention of security men saved the situation from degenerating into a full blown crisis.
Vanguard gathered that some of the protesters were arrested by the Police and all attempts to get the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Adekunle Ajisebutu to speak on the incident failed as his phone was switched off.
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