The Nation Newspaper

Tag: motorist

  • Motorist ‘kills’ student in Umuahia

    A 400-level Economics student of the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State, Obinna Chiaha, was, at the weekend, killed by a commercial motorist.

    Eyewitness said the driver tried to overtake a trailer when he hit Chiaha.

    The incident, which occurred close to the university gate on the Umuahia/Ikot Ekpene road, caused pandemonium as students protested Chiaha’s death.

    They caught the driver and handed him over to the university’s security men. Unconfirmed reports said the students became violent when Chiaha was confirmed dead at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Umuahia.

    Chiaha’s body was taken to a morgue.

    A school source said: “Many students, on hearing the sad news, took to the streets to protest his death.

    “The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Francis Otunta, who addressed the students on the phone, urged them to remain calm as the university will ensure that the deceased student gets justice.”

  • Motorist, crane driver in road rage

    Motorist, crane driver in road rage

    Tempers flared yesterday on a Lagos road. A motorist accused a tractor driver of endangering his life and that of his family on Fatai Atere Way in Matori.

    The motorist, who was with his wife and children, observed that the tractor’s iron knob was almost descending on his car.

    He alighted and berated the tractor driver for not leaving enough space in between them.

    It almost led to a fight but some people, mostly traders promptly intervened.

    They blamed the tractor driver for endangering the lives of those in the car.

    An eyewitness, who gave his name as simply Emmanuel,said the tractor driver was unmindful of the danger his action posed.

    He said: “The tractor driver was trying to move closer to the car because the traffic was moving slowly. It was unknown to him that the iron on top had moved too close which can easily damage the car in front. The car owner observed this and quickly stepped out of his car to talk to the tractor driver not to drive too close to him.

    “It was during the course of asking the tractor driver to keep a distance that an argument ensued between them. Traders and passersby who observed the scene intervened and pleaded with the tractor driver to cooperate which he did and the car owner left for his car.”

     

  • Tension as policeman kills motorist in Lagos

    Tension as policeman kills motorist in Lagos

    There was pandemonium around Second Rainbow, Oshodi-Apapa Expressway on Friday after a trigger happy policeman gunned a commercial driver.

    The incident which occurred at about 8am was said to have been caused by the refusal of the bus driver to give the policeman “their usual bribe.”

    This is happening barely one month after a police Corporal shot at a tricyclist and killed his wife at Ijegun for refusing to part with N100 bribe.

    It was gathered that the unidentified policeman, attached to Orile Police Station, had wanted to shoot the tyre of the bus but unfortunately, killed the driver

    An eyewitness who refused to be named told The Nation that the bullet hit the driver on his chest, killing him instantly.

    He stated that the policemen came out from the police station opposite an eatery, by Second Rainbow and were demanding money from the commercial bus drivers.

    “It happened before 8am. The policemen came from the station opposite Tank and Tommy and were demanding their usual bribe.

    “The bus drivers were refusing to give them and they were threatening the drivers. I was in another bus but before we knew what was happening, one of the policemen fired his gun.

    “I think he wanted to shoot the driver’s tyre but the bullet hit the man on his chest and his blood covered the entire road.

    “This made the bus drivers angry and their colleagues from Oshodi were told. The whole place became crowded with protesting bus drivers, while the policemen that did it ran into the station.

    “Later, I saw policemen from other stations, I don’t know where they came from but I think they were called as reinforcement.

    “They started shooting guns anyhow and that was how I ran from the place to avoid being a victim of stray bullet,” he said.

    Other commuters who witnessed the sporadic gunshots took to social media to warn potential road users to keep off the route.

    As at the time of filing this report, calm has been restored in the area, with the motorists going about their usual routine.

  • Outrage as Naval rating allegedly kills motorist

    Commercial motorcyclists and tanker drivers on Thursday morning almost lynched a Naval rating in Lagos for allegedly causing the death of motorist.

    The incident occurred at the Kirikiri area of the state, causing heavy gridlock on the busy road.

    It was alleged that the ratings, who are attached to the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) WEY, Ojo, had pulled a tanker motor-boy off the moving heavy duty vehicle for refusing to part with N1000.

    The Nation gathered that the Naval personnel were also extorting between N500 and N1000 from tankers and trucks plying the road.

    It was learnt that the deceased conductor had refused to give the security officials the bribe on grounds that they were yet to make any money for the day.

    Angered by his response, the Naval operatives were said to have tried to impound the vehicle, which led to the driver speeding off.

    According to eyewitnesses, the ratings pursued the tanker and one of them, who’s yet to be identified, pulled the conductor to the ground, at which point the fleeing driver crushed him.

    Unconfirmed report stated that the driver also hit a motorcycle killing its rider, as well as damaging a car marked BX941ABC, and a tricycle with registration number KSF342QE.

    The death of the conductor sparked angered commercial motorcyclists and member of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), who were said to have beaten up the rating and locked him in a shop along the road.

    All efforts by other unarmed Naval personnel to quell the rage was said to have been rebuffed until a team of armed Naval operatives allegedly arrived the scene and scared the angry mob with gunshots.

    They were alleged to have whisked their colleague away, resulting in a protest by the aggrieved civilians.

    According to one of the drivers who preferred anonymity, the deceased conductor was crushed and his skull was left on the ground.

    He claimed that they were tired of harassment by security agents who extort money from them on daily basis.

  • Ovia’s sloppy bridge of deaths

    Ovia’s sloppy bridge of deaths

    Ovia Bridge has recorded more accidents and claimed more lives than many others. SHOLA O’NEIL reports

    Motorists, especially commercial bus drivers who ply the Benin-Ore-Shagamu-Lagos routes, know that one of the most dangerous parts of the course is the point which starts from Iyera, just after the Ogbemudia Farms, to Ofumwengbe village, a community located in one of the hilly parts towards Ekiadolor.

    Although barely five kilometres, hairpin bends, high rising and steep, dipping slopes, unprotected chasm and gigantic gullies on either sides of the highway, especially on the ascent towards Iyera town, make it a death trap. The valley of death is arguably the Ovia Bridge, at the feet of the two hills.

    Apart from warning lights recently placed on descent towards the bridge from Lagos, there are no signs to alert drivers, especially first time users of the road on the dangerous condition ahead.

    Road safety officials, police and community leaders in Iguowa, Ugbihiehie, Ofumwengbe Azaka and Iguiye blame the dangerous course for thousands of accidents over the past 38 years.

    Our investigation revealed that about 20,000 persons might have died at the notorious spots since the road was built by French construction giant, Dumez Nigeria Limited in 1974. Financial losses to accidents on the bridge are put at several billions of naira in the past two decades alone.

    “That section is very bad,” a driver with one of the popular transport lines in Benin City said.

    “But the worst place is the bridge. Although that bridge is very small, there is more to it. It is a ‘wonderful’ bridge. Every driver, who knows this route, will advise you to pay careful attention when getting near it,” our source, who appealed that neither his names nor his employer’s should be used in this report, stated.

     

  • ‘Policemen’ shoot motorist dead in Lagos

    A motorist was shot dead in Lagos yesterday by some men on Police uniform.

    The incident occurred about 9a.m, around Daleko Bridge, Iyana-Isolo, a Lagos suburb.

    Passersby and onlookers ran for cover as gun shots rang out.

    When the dust settled, the motorist, who reportedly had an argument with the uniformed man, lay dead in a pool of his own blood.

    He was said to be driving a Toyota Highlander Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) before he was killed.

    An eye witness who simply identified himself as Kolade, said: “Like everyone around, I was scared stiff seeing some men in police uniforms rain bullets on an innocent man. The man’s killers were in police uniforms. We could only run for cover.

    “There was stampede in the area. Passersby and traders were running helter-skelter to avoid being hit by stray bullets.”

    Many believe that the assailants might be policemen chasing robbery suspects. But after the motorist was killed, residents of the area believed that they might be hired assassins or robbers.

    The state police spokesperson, Ngozi Braide, a Deputy Superintendent (DSP), said last night that the Commander, Area ‘D’, Mushin, received a distress call that there was shooting around Daleko Bridge, Mushin, adding that some policemen were immediately dispatched to the area. On arrival, according to her, the gunmen had disappeared.

    Following enquiry, eye-witnesses told men of the Area ‘D’ that the gunmen who came in police uniforms operated in a commercial bus. The victim, Mr. Santos Korie, a foreigner, was said to have died on his way to the hospital.

    “It was not immediately ascertained whether the gunmen were hired killers in police uniform or genuine police officers.”

    The victim’s vehicle, it was learnt yesterday, was parked at the Daleko Police Station; the body has been deposited in a morgue.

    There were speculations last night that seven persons had been arrested in connection with the incident. They are reportedly being detained at the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) in Ikeja.

    Police Commissioner Umar Manko is said to have ordered that the gunmen be fished out since they are suspected to be policemen.

    Of recent, gunmen operating in military and police uniforms have been involved in such violent crimes.

    Manko appealed to the public, especially the victim’s family, to remain calm as the gunmen would be brought to book.