A commercial bus with registration number Abuja ABC 278 XH has been
involved in a ghastly auto crash with an articulated truck of Sigh Obi
Company with registration number Lagos EKY 451 XM and a commercial
tricycle which occurred at the popular Waterside Bridge along Aba-Ikot
Ekpene Expressway.
Four passengers of the bus are feared dead.
Acording to The Nation, three passengers inside commercial bus and
driver of the commercial tricycle died on the spot while over five
passengers of the commercial bus and occupants of the tricycle were
severely injured and are currently receiving medical attention in
various hospitals in the commercial town.
Sources within the area revealed that the incident happened around
10 O’clock Wednesday morning which resulted to heavy gridlock on the
expressway leading into the commercial city.
The Nation reports that a source who spoke anonymously, revealed
that if not that police called for reinforcement from sister security
agencies; army, angry mob would have lynched police personnel from
Eziama Police Division who were alleged to be extorting money from
commercial drivers on the bridge.
According to an eyewitness who gave his name as Kingsley “Police
from Eziama were at this point (checkpoint) of the bridge collecting
money from motorists. Shortly, the bus driver carrying mostly women who
are coming into town to sell vegetable and fruits emerged. The bus
driver gave one of the police officers N20 who insisted that the driver
should give him N50. It was while they were dragging it that the Singh
Obi truck that was descending the bridge lost control and ram into the
bus.
“The incident angered people that saw how the thing happened
who attacked the police personnel and their vehicle. It was in the
process that police called in army personnel staying at Ogbor Hill who
came and stopped the already tensed mob from going further with their
actions.”
When the scene of the incident was visited, police officers and
some military personnel were seen assisting to ensure that the tricycle
and commercial bus were towed out of the road to enable free flow of
traffic.
At Seventh Day Adventist Hospital where some of the survivors were
receiving medical attention, efforts made to speak with the Chief
medical Director failed as he was said to be battling to save the lives
of the injured persons said to be in critical state.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ASP Ogbonnaya Nta
confirmed the incident and however denied that the loss of lives was
caused by police personnel who were on duty at the checkpoint at the
time the incident happened.
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