Three employees of Ekiti Local Government Area in Kwara State died in a road accident on May 1, 2026, while returning from the Workers' Day rally in Ilorin. The crash occurred after the officials attended the 2026 May Day event at George Agbasika Inni Stadium Complex. Six others sustained injuries and were hospitalized for treatment.
Prof. Nusirat Elelu, Executive Secretary of the Kwara State Primary Health Care Development Agency (KWSPHCDA), confirmed the incident in a statement issued in Ilorin on May 2, 2026. She described the deceased as actively involved in the ongoing polio immunisation exercise in the local government.
"These were committed officers who contributed immensely to the success of the ongoing polio immunisation exercise, serving their communities with dedication," Elelu said. "Their sudden loss is a painful blow to all of us."
Elelu expressed grief over the deaths, calling the incident shocking and a major loss to the health sector and Kwara State. She said the workers died in active service to humanity and their communities.
The executive secretary prayed for the peaceful repose of the deceased and urged strength for their families, colleagues, and the people of Ekiti LGA. She wished the injured a swift recovery and assured them of the agency's support. Elelu called on stakeholders to remain united and continue strengthening healthcare delivery in the state.
Prof. Nusirat Elelu mourns health workers killed en route from a May Day rally, yet praises their service in a polio campaign they had no chance to complete. Their deaths expose the risk frontline workers face even outside clinical settings, with no mention of safety logistics for official travel. If their contribution was vital, then the system that sent them on the road without protection failed them. The state's call for unity rings hollow without action on transport safety for health personnel.
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