Lecturer, Amotekun chief, three others die in auto crash

A senior lecturer at The Polytechnic Ibadan, Oyo State, Mr Kola Oladunjoye, has been reported dead in an accident along the Moniya-Iseyin Road.

Oladunjoye, an architect and a former head of department in the institution, was said to have died on Thursday alongside three others whose identities had yet to be confirmed.

It was gathered that Oladunjoye and others said to be officials of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund were on their way from an official assignment at the Oke Ogun Polytechnic, Saki in the Saki West Local Government Area of the state.

Their vehicle was said to have skidded after losing control before plunging into the Odo Ogun from the bridge.

A source said, “The others are TETFUND officials who were on an official assignment at the Oke-Ogun Polytechnic, Saki. The team also included a staff of The Polytechnic Ibadan.

“We were able to identify Kola Oladunjoye, our past Head of Department of Architecture. He travelled to Oke-Ogun Polytechnic, Saki for a programme. He went with a professional team.”

Efforts to get a reaction from the Federal Road Safety Corps in the state proved abortive as a telephone call to the Sector Commander, Mrs Uche Chukwurah, were not successful.

An text message sent to her had not been replied to as of the time of filing this report.

The Public Relations Officer of The Polytechnic, Ibadan, Alhaji Soladoye Adewole, confirmed the death of the immediate past Head of Department of Architecture of the institution.

Soladoye, who noted that the polytechnic community was mourning, said, “We have lost one of our best hands, a very cerebral fellow who was until his death, the Chairman of Due Process in the school. He was also the immediate past HoD of Architecture department.

“He related well with virtually everybody and he was loved by all. The rector is so saddened, ditto for other management staff. The entire polytechnic community is in deep mourning. We also mourn the others even though we have not been able to ascertain their identities. It is a sad development, but nobody can query God.”

Also, the Amotekun chief in the Kajola Local Government Area of Oyo State, Tajudeen Salaudeen, popularly called Arogunmasa, has reportedly died in a motorcycle crash.

It was gathered that the accident happened at the Sawmill area along Ilero Road while he was trying to manoeuvre some potholes on his way to Okeho in the early hours of Thursday.

It was learnt that he had earlier got a call to attend to an emergency assignment in Ilero.

As soon as he got the call, it was reported that he made a detour to Ilero. He was said to have died immediately after falling off the motorbike he rode.

His corpse, which was earlier deposited at the Baptist Medical Centre, Ilero, Iwa Local Council Development Area of the state, was buried on Friday according to Islamic rite.

Arogunmasa, who was described as a fearless and disciplined man whose lifetime was committed to activism, became the head of Amotekun based on his pedigree as an intelligent and patriotic person.

His burial was attended by the officials of Amotekun and other government functionaries in the state. (Saturday Sun)