Dozens Injured As Cattle Run Across Highway In Ondo

An eighteen seater passenger bus narrowly escaped a fatal accident on Sunday, which would have recorded massive deaths as herdsmen and their cattle unwarily ran across the Owo/Benin highway in Ondo State.

It involved the cattle and a white Toyota Hiace bus with plate number: KPA 77LG coming from Lagos State to Owo, the headquarters of Owo LGA of the state, killing a cow on the spot, damaged the vehicle and left some passengers injured.

Eye-witnesses, who sympathized with the victims at the spot of the accident at the outskirt of Uso town, lamented that it was a narrow escape by the whisker as the herd, over 200 cows, suddenly ran across the oncoming vehicle.

One of the sources narrated that “the bus has got closer to the Fulani and the cattle when two of the cattle ran across the road and hit it, after several manouvring and schemes to dodge them.

“Immediately the accident happened, the herdsmen spoke a distinct language to the other cows and they started to escape into the bush.”

A police contingent, Safer Highways, who were stationed along that route, had got to the scene protecting the passengers, while others pursued the herdsmen and their cows, which were still seen from a far distance.

A victim, Mrs Grace Ajayi, who had a fracture due to the impact of the accident, added that “we were just saved by Grace from the hands of these wicked Fulani herdsmen. It all happened with a lightening speed, just heard gbam.

“It was God who actually took control of the situation and control the bus from the driver to save our lives from a fatal accident that would have claimed many lives.”

The driver, who was visibly dumbfounded and in shock, started counting his loss over the accident as he was moving aimlessly around, shouting “when Owo is only a stone-throw ahead.”