By Omotayo Edubi
Ogun Crime Watch has called on the police to invite Nollywood actor Kunle Afod for questioning over his viral video criticising the emergency response to a road accident along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
Related: UK returnee dies in Lagos-Ibadan Expressway crash en route to wedding in Ogun
Key Highlights
- Ogun Crime Watch wants police to invite Kunle Afod over his video on the Saapade crash response.
- Afod claimed victims waited about 20 minutes without help; Ogun government says responders arrived in 10 minutes.
- The group says Afod posted his video at 12:29 p.m., a minute after responders arrived at 12:28 p.m.
- The Mazda bus crash injured 13 of 18 passengers after a tyre burst near Saapade.
- Police had not confirmed any invitation to Afod as of the time of this report.
The group accused the actor of allegedly spreading misleading information about the response of the Ogun State’s emergency services to the accident at Saapade, urging security agencies to investigate the circumstances surrounding his claims.
In a statement signed by its President, Olumide Martin, Ogun Crime Watch questioned Afod’s account that accident victims were left without assistance for about 20 minutes.
Group cites government timeline
The group cited the timeline released by the state government, which indicated that the accident was reported at 12:18 p.m. and emergency responders arrived at the scene at 12:28 p.m.
It further noted that Afod reportedly published his video at 12:29 p.m., just one minute after the emergency response team arrived.
Ogun Crime Watch said the timing raised questions about the accuracy of the actor’s account and called on the police to establish when the video was recorded and whether his allegations amounted to any offence.
How the controversy started
The controversy started after Afod shared a video questioning the state government’s handling of the accident, alleging that victims had waited for approximately 20 minutes without receiving emergency assistance.
However, the state government disputed his account, insisting that emergency responders arrived within 10 minutes of receiving the distress report.
The Special Adviser on Media and Strategy to Governor Dapo Abiodun, Kayode Akinmade, explained that the emergency team had to navigate the expressway and turn to the opposite carriageway before reaching the accident scene. It is not the first time the government has pushed back on such claims; it previously rejected “no ambulance” allegations after the Anthony Joshua crash.
The government also disclosed that personnel of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), police officers and the Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency (TRACE) participated in the rescue operation.
The accident involved a Mazda bus conveying 18 passengers, which reportedly suffered a tyre burst before crashing into a concrete barrier around Saapade.
Thirteen passengers sustained injuries and were evacuated to hospitals for treatment. Those with serious injuries were taken to the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital (OOUTH), Sagamu.
Read also:
- UK returnee dies in Lagos-Ibadan Expressway crash en route to wedding in Ogun
- 4 Persons Injured In Lagos Crash Less Than 24 Hours After 2 Die In Fatal Accident
- Anthony Joshua’s driver appears in Ogun court over fatal auto crash
Ogun Crime Watch also alleged that Afod had political interests in the matter, claiming that he previously produced campaign videos for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in the state, Ladi Adebutu.
The group maintained that its demand for police intervention is not intended to restrict freedom of expression, but to establish the facts surrounding the incident and promote responsible public communication.
It urged celebrities and social media influencers to verify information before publishing claims about emergencies, warning that inaccurate reports could create unnecessary panic and undermine public confidence in emergency response agencies.
As of the time of this report, there was no confirmation that the police had invited Afod for questioning.
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