Panic gripped traders, commuters and motorists at the busy Challenge Market in Ilorin, Kwara State, on Saturday after a commercial bus reportedly lost its brakes and crashed into a shop within the market.
The 18-seater Toyota Hiace bus was said to have veered off the road after the driver lost control of the vehicle, smashing through a concrete barricade before coming to a halt inside the market. No fatalities were recorded.
Eyewitnesses told our correspondent that after discovering the vehicle had developed brake failure, the driver repeatedly shouted for help and waved frantically to alert road users and operatives of the Kwara State Road Traffic Management Authority stationed at the junction.
An eyewitness, Rasaq Adio, said, “The driver kept shouting that the brakes had failed while waving to everyone to clear the road. The KWARTMA officials quickly understood what was happening and immediately began directing people away from the junction.”
Another eyewitness, Tajudeen Alata, said the prompt intervention of the traffic officials prevented what could have been a devastating accident at one of Ilorin’s busiest intersections.
“The officials cleared the junction within a short time. If they had not acted quickly, the bus would have rammed into several vehicles and pedestrians because the place was crowded.
“Unable to stop the vehicle, the bus crashed into the concrete barricade at the Challenge intersection. The impact forced it through the barrier before it eventually slammed into a shop located inside the adjoining market.”
Authorities at the scene confirmed that no lives were lost in the incident, while traffic officials and residents later commenced efforts to remove the wreckage from the market area and restore the free flow of traffic at the busy junction.
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