No fewer than eight persons were killed yesterday in a fatal auto crash along the Okurikang axis of the Calabar-Itu highway in Cross River State.
Eye witnesses said the accident involved a truck and four other vehicles.
The accident, which occurred at about 10.30am, brings to 43 the number of lives that have been lost on the federal highway in the past eight weeks.
The eye witness said the driver of the truck, who was carrying scraps and heading to Aba, lost control and rammed into four other cars, killing some of the occupants.
The sector commander of the Federal Road Safety Corp (FRSC) in Cross River State, Mr. Ikechukwu Igwe, confirmed the incident, saying, “five vehicles were involved, a truck and four other vehicles, and by the time we got there, two had already been removed.
“On the whole, eight people died and three people were left injured. We took the three injured people to the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH) first, and on our way back, we picked the dead ones. We noticed that the police had already evacuated the dead bodies. But our men are there clearing the road and we have made some recoveries, including money.”
According to him, the dead include, “one female adult and seven male adults died, while two male adults and two female adults are in the hospital receiving treatment.”
On the immediate cause of the accident, Igwe said, “for the fact that they said a truck was involved means that he was reckless. You know how they drive along that road. Right now, the vehicles are in the bush. For the fact that he ran into all the four vehicles, it is either he lost control or he was speeding, but I am going to get the details.”
He appealed to motorists plying the road to be patient, especially during the last quarter of the year.
‘I will dust Edon in tribunal’, boasts Umahi
From Ogochukwu Anioke, Abakaliki
Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi, yesterday said that he was sure that his victory in the last governorship poll in the state would not be nullified by the election petition tribunal.
The governor spoke while inspecting the Nwofe/Agbaja road being constructed by his administration.
He told his supporters to disregard the rumor making the round that the election would be nullified by the tribunal, saying that he has trust in God.
It will be recalled that Dr. Edward Nkwegu who contested the 2015 governorship election under the banner of Labour Party is challenging the victory of Umahi at the tribunal.
Governor Umahi, who claimed he has never seen the tribunal judges, said he has confidence in them.
He said, “I want to use this opportunity to ask you to disregard the rumor that our election will be cancelled. No one will cancel our elections.
“Even though I have never seen the judges, but I have confidence in them,” he stated.
He promised to be at the tribunal today when the tribunal will adopt written addresses of the Governor and that of the petitioner.
