The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Crash

  • Nigerian student, others killed in Malaysia crash

    A Nigerian and an Egyptian student were killed while another was injured in an accident at Jalan Mahameru, Malaysia yesterday.

    The  trio was travelling by road  when the driver was believed to have lost control of the vehicle at about 3:00 a.m. local time.

    City Traffic Investigation and Legal staff officer, Deputy Superintendent S. Markandan, said the vehicle had steered to the left and crashed into a divider.

    “The driver of the vehicle, Ahmadu Bello Danbatta from Nigeria, and a passenger identified as Islam Deeb from Egypt were pronounced dead at the scene.

    “Another passenger identified as Ahlam Shuib sustained injuries on his lips,” he said, adding that all three victims were students at a private college.

    The bodies were sent to the Kuala Lumpur Hospital for post-mortem.

    The victim who was injured in the incident was also sent to the same hospital for treatment.

  • Fashola’s ex-aide in road crash

    Fashola’s ex-aide in road crash

    An aide of former Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola, Alhaji Ahmed Jebe, has recalled how he almost lost his life in an accident.

    Jebe posted the accident scene on Facebook, with pictures of his damaged car, thanking Allah for his safety.

    Contacted, he told The Nation that the accident occurred last Monday in Mile 2 on, Lagos-Badagry Expressway.

    According to him, the accident, which happened at 11:50am, involved a lorry and six other vehicles.

    The former special assistant to Fashola said he was going to Lagos State University (LASU) when the lorry hit him from behind, while he hit the car in his front.

    He said: “I was on my way to LASU, about getting to Mile 2 bus stop. We were all lined up in the traffic when the lorry behind me that carried blocks from one construction company rammed into my car. It hit me from the back and I hit the vehicle in front of me. In the process of reversing, he rammed into another vehicle by my side. We later learnt that about five other vehicles were involved.”

    Jebe said he didn’t know something had hit his car until he rammed into the car in front.

    “It was like a movie; very shocking. When he hit me, I didn’t know it was my car until I hit the vehicle in front of me and I said: ‘Who hit my car this way?’ I couldn’t come out immediately as I was waiting to see if I was free to come out from the side. When I alighted, I asked the lorry driver why he hit my car and that was when I discovered that he had hit other cars also. So, I waited till the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) officials came with the traffic police officers,” he said.

    He said the lorry had been overspeeding and could not control his brake when he ran into the traffic.

    All the vehicles involved in the accident were taken to Orile Police Station where their owners’ statements were taken.

    Many commuters and passersby, he said, didn’t know he was the one inside the car “because they had concluded that the person inside the car couldn’t come out alive due to the wreckage.”

    Jebe said he was grateful to God for sparing his life.

    He said: “I appreciate God’s favour on me so much because immediately that thing happened, people around were saying the lorry driver had killed me until they saw me step out, then they said ‘God has really saved you otherwise we would just have been looking at you and forgotten about the car.’ Others who later came to the spot were saying that the owner of the car must have died unknowing that I’m the victim. But Alhamdulillah, God saved my life. I give thanks to Him and I will always adore him.”

    “The accident has changed my perception about driving on the road. I believe that everyone driving on the road should not trust the next driver. They should just drive carefully and pray to God for protection,” he added.

  • Total refuses to cut jobs, despite oil price crash

    Total refuses to cut jobs, despite oil price crash

    French energy company, Total expects a drop in last year’s results but does not plan to cut jobs as peer British Petroleum has done to weather low oil prices, its Chief Executive, Patrick Pouyanne, said this during an interview with reporters.

    According to Reuters, he said  the group had the financial capacity to weather low oil prices, adding that Total like its peers was being hit by the fall in crude prices and that the company expected its results to drop by 20 per cent.

    A Total spokesman said Pouyanne was referring to the company’s full-year 2015 results, which will be presented on February 11.

    “We are resisting, but we are taking a hit,” he said.

    “We have the financial capacity to withstand the price volatility in crude. We know that in commodities, there are cycles. Yes, this cycle is very violent, down 20 per cent in less than a month, 60 per cent in a year.”

    Asked if Total would cut jobs, Pouyanne said: “No. We are used to these cycles, and jobs cannot be the adjustable variable because I’ll need these workers when the price goes back up, and it will go back up someday. I don’t know when.”

    British energy company BP said last week that it planned to slash five per cent of its global workforce, about 4,000 jobs.

    Pouyanne said Total had decided instead  not  to replace all retiring staff and to hire fewer people.

    Total shares were up 2.1 per cent, boosting France’s blue-chip CAC 40 index and tracking the sector index, which was also up by more than per cent.

  • Driver dies, motor boy injured in road crash

    Driver dies, motor boy injured in road crash

    Traffic stood still for hours around Lagos State Secretariat at Alausa, Ikeja, on Saturday when a waste disposal truck collided with a Mercedes Benz 4matic Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) and a Land Rover.

    The truck driver died on the spot; the motor boy, popularly known as conductor, is lying critically ill at Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH).

    He was said to have suffered leg fracture.

    It was gathered that the suction truck marked GGE691, which had just left the Alausa Police Barrack, veered to the other side of the road, following brake failure.

    It ran into the Benz marked FST161BZ and the Land Rover with registration number EKY93DV, which were heading towards the secretariat.

    The vehicles blocked the Secretariat-bound road, leading motorists to take one way to get out of the gridlock.

    Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) officials had a hectic time controlling traffic.

    They later diverted traffic through Governor’s Road to ease the congestion.

    Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) General Manager Michael Akindele yesterday said the motor boy was rushed to LASUTH after the accident.

    “The driver of the truck died on the spot, while the motor boy; an adult male had fracture of the leg. He was immediately taken to LASUTH by Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS).

    “The drivers of the two other vehicles escaped unhurt. The situation was caused by brake failure. Drivers need to properly check their vehicles and adhere to safety regulations to prevent unnecessary loss of lives,” he said.

  • Five injured in Ondo auto crash

    Five persons were injured at the weekend in multiple accidents in Oka-Akoko, Akoko South West Local Government Area of Ondo State. Two vehicles were damaged.

    The accident, which occurred on the Owo/Abuja Road, was said to have been caused by over speeding.

    The first happened at the accident-prone Oke-Alabojuto. The other was at Oke-Maria near Oka-Akoko.

    It was gathered that the truck rammed into a car coming from Abuja and the driver reportedly fled.

    An eyewitness, Mrs Taiba Yaya, said the accident caused gridlock on the busy road, which links the South to the North.

    It was learnt that the victims were rushed to the Federal Medical Centre, Owo.

    The unit commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Ikare, Jimoh Basiru, said over speeding was responsible for the accident.

    The FRSC boss said the truck had been impounded. He warned drivers against over speeding.

  • NAF plane crashes in Yola, no survivour

    A Nigerian Air Force plane has reportedly crashed in Yola, the Adamawa State capital.

    Director Defence Information, Col. Abubakar Rabe, according to Channels Television confirmed the crash.

    Air Force spokesman, Dele Alonge, in a statement on Saturday night said the aircraft crashed at about 4:23pm due to bad weather.

    According to Alonge, the F7-Ni fighter jet, with registration number, NAF801, was ‘returning to base from a mission when it crashed  around Hong, in Hong Local Government Area of Adamawa State’.

    “There was no survivour  as the pilot of the aircraft lost his life in the unfortunate incident,” Mr. Alonge said.

  • Heartland want to dedicate Lobi win to Oriental Airline plane crash victims

    Heartland want to dedicate Lobi win to Oriental Airline plane crash victims

    •Naze Millionaires remember dead duo 21 years later

    Heartland will be eager to beat Lobi Stars as a tribute for the repose of the souls of Aimola Omale and Uche Ikeogu who both died when the club’s (then known as Iwuanyanwu Nationale) chartered flight crashed in Algeria in 1994 when they were returning from Tunisia after a CAF Champions Cup first leg tie against Esperance Sportive.

    The ill-fated crash happened on September 18, 1994 and 21 years after the incident which happened in an Algerian town of Tamanrasset Heartland players and officials yesterday assembled to pray and have a procession in honour of the two players that died in the crash.

    The Media Officer of Heartland, Cajetan Nkwopara told SportingLife the Naze Millionaires players and officials used part of their final training session ahead of Sunday’s duel with Lobi Stars to hold a procession and also pray for the repose of the lives of the dead duo of Omale and Ikeogu.

    He said Heartland players have been told to approach the tie with the Pride of Benue with maximum concentration as they would like to dedicate the expected home win to the repose of the lives of their former heroes.

    Nkwopara told SportingLife that the death of the two players in the Oriental Airline plane crash still remains one of the sad moments of the club and that even though it is over 20 years the incidence still remains ever fresh in their memories.

  • Air Force names crash victims

    Air Force names crash victims

    •Govt condole with families

    The victims of the Nigerian Air Force plane which crashed on Saturday into a residential quarter at Ribadu Cantonment in Kaduna,have been named.

    They are: Squadron Leader Adekunle Suara (pilot), wife of Wing Commander N. Hassan, wife of Wing Commander I. B. Musa, Warrant Officer Etim and Air Craft Woman Naomi Adekunle.

    The ill-fated aircraft was Abuja-bound.

    Squadron Leader Suara is survived by a young wife, who got married to him last year.

    According to a statement by the Director of Defence Information, Col. Rabe Abubakar, President  Muhammadu Buhari  described the crash as colossal loss not only to the families but to the nation

    “The President spoke through the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Defence, Alhaji Aliyu Ismaila, who was also the head of Federal Government delegation that visited the site of the crash and the families of the victims.

    “The President extends his condolences on behalf of the Federal Government and the good people of Nigeria over the unfortunate loss of the officers and men whom he described as gentlemen and intelligent personnel whose loss could not be quantified especially now that their services are much-needed.

    “The President prayed for the repose of their souls and also prayed Almighty God to grant the families the fortitude to bear the irreplaceable loss.

    ” Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Abayomi Gabriel Olonisakin, who was also in the Presidential entourage, condoled with the families on behalf of the Armed Forces and described the late officers as fine, loyal and patriotic gentlemen who died gallantly while serving their fatherland.

    He said: “Though you are gone, your memories will be with us for a very long time to come”.

    A Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Dornier-228 aircraft, with call sign NAF030, crashed into a house at Ribadu Cantonment, Kaduna shortly after take-off.

    The highlight of the condolence visit was the observance of a one-minute silence in honour of the departed colleagues and visits to the individual families of the victims.

    Some of those on the entourage were the GOC 1 Division, Maj Gen Adeniyi Oyebade, Air Officer Commanding, Training Command, Kaduna, AVM Alkali Mamu, Commandant, Nigerian Defence Academy, Maj Gen MT Ibrahim, Chief of Defence Communications, Defence Headquarters and other senior officers on the entourage of the Federal Government delegation.

    The owner of the house on which the chopper crashed, Lt. Col. Grema, narrated how he escaped death.

    He told the delegation that: “I came out of my house few minutes before the aircraft fell on my bore hole.  I had not quite shut the door to my house when I heard the noise arising from the crash.”

    As at the time of the visit, condolence registers had been opened in the victim’s houses, while some family members were still in shock. The young wife of the deceased pilot, thanked the delegation.

    Wing Commander Musa and Hassan said the visit by the top brass team had given them encouragement and courage to raise the children their wives left. They pledged  their unrelenting effort to move the NAF and the Nigeria military forward.

    Speaking with reporters after inspecting the scene of the crash, the Permanent Secretary said: “We have lost very able officers and their families and we want to on behalf of the Federal Government extend our condolences to all of them and pray for the repose of their souls.

    “With the passion and zeal the president came in with, you will appreciate that he is doing everything possible to address some of these challenges of security in the country. The Nigerian Army, Air force and Navy are all one and he is doing all his best to reposition them to meet global standards.”

    He appealed to Nigerians to give Buhari the needed support to move the country forward, saying: “This incident is something that is from God and we should accept it as such, all we can do is pray that when our time come, we die in peace.”

    Wife of Wing Commander Hassan left behind four young kids, the eldest is not up to 10. As at the time of the visit, the children were busy playing around the compound.

  • Seven die in Oyo-Ogbomoso road crash

    No fewer than seven people were killed yesterday when a commercial bus and an articulated vehicle ran into each other on the Ogbomoso-Oyo road.

    A report by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) indicated that many other occupants of the bus sustained various degrees of injuries in the accident.

    A witness, who gave his name as Tayo, told NAN that the accident happened when an Ilorin-bound commercial bus overtook a sport utility vehicle and tried to manoeuvre its way back to its lane but failed.

    “When I got to the accident scene some moments after it occurred, people were assisting the accident victims,” he said.

    He said that the driver of the bus did not sustain any injury.

    NAN gathered that six people died on the spot while another victim died on the way to the hospital.

    Spokesman of the Oyo Police Command Mr. Addekunle Ajisebutu said he had not been briefed by the divisional police officers in Oyo town and Ogbomoso.

    Also yesterday, a truck laden with 33,000 litres of fuel was said to have somersaulted ‎in the Taki area of Ogbomoso and emptied its contents in a gutter.

    According to another witness, who preferred anonymity, many people rushed to the scene to scoop fuel.‎

    Security men were said to have been dispatched to the scene to prevent any casualty.

  • 11 persons die in Abia road accident

    11 persons die in Abia road accident

    It was a tragic day in Umuahia South Local Government Area Abia State as eleven out of the 35 Persons said to be coming back from a traditional marriage at Osah near the state capital died after their mini bus had a head-on-collision with a truck.

    The accident it was gathered happened at 9.00 pm, at a popular luxury bus terminal along the Enugu –Port Harcourt expressway.

    The truck marked KUJ824XB, loaded with fertilizer was said to be travelling from Port Harcourt to the Northern part of the country, while the Mini bus, a Mercedes Benz 608, with registration number XM 935 KJA Lagos State left Osah in Umuahia and was heading back to Obehie in Ukwa West Local Government Area of Abia state when the two vehicles collided into each other.

    It was gathered that the driver of the truck disappeared from the scene immediately the accident occurred.

    While the driver of the Mini bus was said to have survived the crash, but others were not fortunate.

    Unconfirmed reports have it that nine persons died on Sunday, while two more were said to have died on Monday at a yet to be disclosed hospital.

    The accident which was described as one the worst on that road in recent times took efforts of men of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) up to Monday morning to ease traffic congestion on the area as the two vehicles covered the road.

    A survivor narrating how the incident happened told Nation that the attention of the driver was called when some of them saw the on-coming truck, but before he could swerve off the road to avoid the truck, the truck had ran into their own vehicle.

    The Sector Public Education Officer of Abia State Sector Command, Mr Chukwuemeka Nwosu said that they had to contact Aba to assist them with their towing truck before they were able to clear the express road of the wreckage of the crashed vehicles.

    “We first rushed a total of 26 persons to Federal Medical Center for treatment before making arrangement to move the dead bodies to the mug. We were there throughout the night with the police to avoid more crashes until this morning when we had made sure that we had cleared the wreckage from the road,” he said.

    Nwosu lamented the issue of lack of operational vehicles and towing trucks and ambulances at the Abia sector Command stating that the only one they have in the state is stationed at Aba due to the busy nature of the area.

    According to him, the Sector had written to the state government several times for assistance,  but that whenever they are giving out vehicles, they only give to other arms of the security agencies like the police and army but don’t consider them at all.

    He explained that if they had ambulance, it would have been easier to move both the dead and the living  as they find it hard to work under their present condition.