Panic broke out at the busy Challenge Market in Ilorin, Kwara State, on Saturday after a commercial bus reportedly suffered brake failure and crashed into a shop within the market.
The incident involved an 18-seater Toyota Hiace bus, which allegedly lost control after its brakes failed. The vehicle veered off the road, rammed through a concrete barricade, and eventually came to a stop inside the market premises.
Eyewitnesses said the driver, upon realizing the fault, raised alarm by shouting and waving frantically to alert pedestrians, motorists, and officials of the Kwara State Road Traffic Management Authority (KWARTMA) stationed nearby.
According to a witness, the swift response of traffic officials helped avert a major disaster. “The driver kept shouting that the brakes had failed while waving for people to clear the road.
Inside Kwara:
Family Demands Justice After Missing Kwara Farmer Found Dead
Police Foil Kidnap Plot, Arrest Two Foreign Nationals in Kwara
Police Nab Suspected Cultist in Kwara, Recover Locally Made Firearm
The traffic officers immediately understood the situation and began directing people away from the area,” he said.
Another eyewitness noted that the timely intervention prevented the bus from crashing into multiple vehicles and pedestrians at the crowded intersection.
“The officials quickly cleared the junction. If not, the outcome would have been devastating because the area was heavily populated at the time,” he added.
Unable to stop, the bus forcefully broke through the barricade before crashing into a nearby shop within the market.
Authorities at the scene confirmed that no fatalities were recorded.
Traffic officials, alongside local residents, later worked together to remove the damaged vehicle and restore normal traffic flow in the area.
The incident has once again raised concerns over vehicle maintenance and road safety compliance among commercial drivers.
About The Author
