Heavy truck slams into bus and Keke NAPEP on Aba-Ikot Ekpene Expressway

Just yesterday Diplomatic Porch reported that about eighty-eight people has lost their lives so far this year on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. Nigerian government really need to work on our road regulations so as to avoid all sorts of future damage.

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.