Ladoja’s supporters buried amidst wailing

The charred bodies of the 18 loyalists of a former governor of Oyo State, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, were on Sunday buried amidst wailing, just as two women fainted at the graveside.

At exactly 11:55 a.m, the bodies of the deceased arrived in a Toyota truck marked KF 795 KJA amidst wailing and gnashing of teeth, as all people present at the graveside, lost control when they sighted the fire-mutilated bodies of their loved ones.

It was emotion-laden voices at the Sango Cemetery, Ibadan, when the bodies, wrapped in white clothes were brought down to the burial site from Adeoyo State Hospital, Ibadan.

They were given mass entombment. It was a painful experience, as family members waited in turn to hear the terrible news of the involvement of their loved ones in the ill-fated journey leading to wailing when the reality dawned on them.

Shocked by the charred bodies of 18 members of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) burnt beyond recognition on their way to Okeho, the headquarters of Kajola Local Government area of Oyo State on Saturday, two women fainted during the mass burial of the deceased.

The unidentified ladies in their 30s were among hundreds of family members, political associates and supporters of former Governor Ladoja, in whose entourage the burnt victims met their waterloo.

Last Saturday, at about 12 noon, the victims, comprising 13 women and five men, all members of the ruling (PDP) and believed to be loyalists of former Governor Ladoja, died when the 18-seater bus they were travelling in had a collision with another vehicle, a Toyota Dyna carrying planks on Ado-Awaye-Okeho road.

The two vehicles caught fire and all those travelling in them were burnt beyond recognition. It was gathered that the other vehicle had five peopl,e including the driver.

The victims were said to be on their way to Okeho to honour one of the top leaders of the group said to be holding the burial ceremony of his immediate brother, an occasion the former governor was also said to have gone ahead of his supporters.

Following the report of the accident on Saturday night, relatives of those that travelled with the former governor besieged his Bodija residence as early as 6.00.a.m. on Sunday morning to ascertain the involvement of their loved ones in the unfortunate incident.