By Ghazali Ibrahim
A 35-year-old Vehicle Inspection Office (VIO) officer, Adediji Sesan, has been killed after a driver allegedly knocked him down while he was conducting a routine vehicle inspection in Akure, the Ondo State capital.
The driver, identified as 37-year-old Ayoade Idowu, has been arrested by the police in connection with the incident.
The accident occurred at about 9:30 a.m. on Friday, October 9, along Hospital Road, opposite Mega Primary School, Akure.
According to the Ondo State Police Command, Sesan was on routine patrol with his colleagues when they flagged down a white Mitsubishi van, with registration number AGL 992 XX, for inspection of its vehicle documents.
The police spokesperson, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, said the driver initially stopped but allegedly drove off when the officer requested the relevant documents, hitting Sesan in the process.
The officer sustained serious head injuries and was rushed to the Federal University of Technology Akure Teaching Hospital, where he was confirmed dead by a doctor.
His remains were deposited at the hospital mortuary for preservation and autopsy.
Jimoh said the suspect had been arrested and detained, adding that preliminary investigations were ongoing.
The case file is expected to be transferred to the Motor Traffic Division for further investigation.
The police assured that a thorough investigation would be conducted and that appropriate legal action would follow.
The command also urged motorists to obey lawful traffic instructions and cooperate with authorised enforcement officers, warning against actions that could endanger lives while attempting to evade routine checks.
The incident has drawn attention to the risks faced by traffic enforcement officers while carrying out their duties on Nigerian roads.
