in Cross Rivers and Lagos state as multiple motor
accidents claimed the lives of over 9 people.
On Wednesday, 5 people including a baby died in
Lagos while 4 others died in an auto accident in Cross
River State.
According to Punch Metro, a woman suffered serious
injury after an articulated truck fell on a commercial
bus on Alaba Suru Road in the Ajeromi-Ifelodun area
of Lagos yesterday.
The fatal car accident that killed the baby and 4 other
people happened while they were returning from
Lagos Island.
It was said the two brothers went to purchase
bangers for the New Year celebration.
The crash was said to have been caused by a
mentally unstable woman, who laid in the middle of
the road, thereby creating confusion for the truck
driver who was on top speed.
Eyewitnesses told PUNCH Metro that the yellow LT
bus, with number plate, MUS-975-XC, had also
stopped by the side of the road to drop off a
passenger, which precipitated the accident.
A resident, Mohammed Wasiu, said, "The incident
happened around 8.30am. I saw the mad woman
walking around this morning. She just decided to
sleep on the road at that time.
"The LT bus was going towards Mile 2. There were
about eight people in the bus. The driver decided to
stop because someone wanted to get down from the
bus.
"As this was going on, the truck was coming on full
speed. There were two trucks; one was already
ahead, so the second truck driver wanted to catch up.
"When he got to that point and saw the mad woman
on the road, he wanted to avoid crushing her. As he
maneuvered the truck, its side hit the bus, and the
container fell on the bus."
Wasiu said residents immediately rushed to the
scene and began to cut the vehicle with saws in order
to save the occupants who were in pain.
Another eyewitness, who did not identify himself,
said, "The two brothers who were at the back of the
bus were trapped. They had packs of bangers that
they just bought. The woman, who wore a shawl, and
was carrying a baby, could not also escape. They all
died, including the driver.
"It was only a lady that was at the entrance to the
door that escaped with a fracture."
After the accident, angry residents were said to have
seized the mentally unstable lady and beaten her up.
Some of the residents said it was the second time
she would trigger such accident. She was, however,
rescued by policemen.
At the rescue operation scene were officials of the
National Emergency Management Agency, Federal
Road Safety Corps, Lagos State Traffic Management
Agency, policemen, and the Lagos State Emergency
Medical Services.
The NEMA spokesperson, South-West Zone, Ibrahim
Farinloye said, "The incident happened at 8.30am,
but we were not alerted till around 11.46am. NEMA
was able to mobilise other rescue officials to the
scene. At the end of the rescue operation, a woman
and her baby with two men died, while a lady was
rescued alive. She however had a fractured leg. The
corpses have been taken to a mortuary in Oshodi."
The police Public Relations Officer, Lagos State, Ngozi
Braide, said she would call back to give details on the
accident.
In Cross River, four youths were on Tuesday killed,
while several others were injured after a Mercedes
Benz 911 truck rammed into them by the road side
at the Akamkpa area of the Calabar-Ikom highway.
The incident, which occurred around the state's
college of education in Awi, Akamkpa Local
Government Area, left the community in mourning.
PUNCH Metro gathered on Wednesday that the truck
with number plate, Lagos FKJ 505 XC, was
immediately burnt by angry mob, while the driver,
Chidi Duruba, and the truck conductor, Edwin
Oragunye, were thoroughly beaten up.
Two of the injured persons are Blessing Etim and
Okechukwu Mbaka. The whereabouts of the six other
injured persons could not be immediately
ascertained.
An eyewitness, Ekam Emmanuel, said, "About 6am
on Tuesday, some youths from Mbarakom
community decided to go for a road walk along the
Calabar-Ikom highway.
"A Mercedes Benz 911 truck with the number plate,
FKJ 505 XC rammed into them from behind and the
incident claimed four lives on the spot while several
others were injured.
"This incident happened at 6am when I came to
clean my shop. I met the youths jogging on the
highway but suddenly a truck coming from Calabar
on high speed climbed on the four that died on the
spot.
"As a result of the tragedy, the Mbarakom youths got
angry, the truck driver and his conducter were
almost killed when they stopped to see what had
happened. They were seriously beaten up, while the
truck was set ablaze."
Emmanuel said another truck, marked Cross River,
KAM 45 XA, was also forcefully stopped by the angry
mob and set ablaze. He added that the driver
escaped being lynched.
She said the anger continued as the youths further
burnt another oncoming Audi 80 commercial car,
adding that the intervention of the combined team of
military and police patrol teams brought the
situation under control.
A police officer in the Akamkpa division, Eric Bassey,
who is of the traffic department, confirmed the
report. He said, "The DPO got an early morning
distress call that there was a riot going on in Awi. He
immediately gave us orders and on getting to the
scene we discovered that three vehicles were burnt
and some casualties were there.
"The casualties included some dead bodies, while
several others, who sustained injuries, were taken to
the hospital for medical attention.
"We were informed that the driver and the conductor
of the truck that caused the accident were being held
hostage at Mbarakom. We acted swiftly, but
discovered that they had been beaten up badly. We
rescued them and took them to the General Hospital
at Akamkpa where they are still receiving
treatment."
According to Police spokesperson, Hogan Bassey,
peace had been restored to the community.
Sent From David Aniemeka
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