Maduako Igbokwe, Awka I Friday, January 31, 2025
AWKA, Anambra- About four operatives attached to the Anambra State Special Anti-Tout Squad are feared dead and others injured after their vehicle rammed into a tipper fully loaded with sand.
The accident, involved three vehicles, including a private Toyota Hummer bus with registration number UWN763XA, a government-owned Toyota Hummer bus without a registration number, and a Mercedes Benz tipper.
It occured along the Onitsha-Owerri Road axis of Oba, near New Road Junction in Idemili South Local Government Area of the state on Friday.
Our correspondent gathered that the driver rammed into the tipper as it was driving out of a junction of the road, during their daily stop and search operation.
According to eyewitnesses near the scene, about eight persons were in the branded Toyota Hiace bus carrying the anti-tout operatives before the incident occurred.
Speaking to our correspondent, one of the eyewitnesses, who identified herself simply as Chinwe, and who lives in the area said, “The branded Toyota vehicle had about eight young men as the occupants and running at full speed before ramming into the tipper fully loaded with sand.
“The operatives were on their routine stop and search operations when they rammed into the tipper which was coming out from another junction of the road.
“After the accident happened, the occupants of the vehicle were trapped and passers-by were the ones bringing out their bodies and more than four lifeless bodies littered the road while those injured were rushed to the hospital.
“The incident has caused panic on the road as motorists and residents battled in the traffic caused by the situation. The incident happened this morning(Friday).”
A video currently in circulating on social media showing the scene of the accident and lifeless bodies littering the road while bystanders and passers-by undertaking rescue operations.
When contacted, the Sector Public Education Officer for the Sector Commander Federal Road Safety Corps, Anambra State, Margaret Onabe, confirmed the the accident while attributing the probable cause of the crash to a route violation, resulting in a head-on collision.
Onabe said, “Five male adults were involved in the crash. Four males lost their lives and one was injured.
“The rescue operation was carried out by Anambra State Anti-tout personnel. The Federal Road Safety Corps team is currently managing traffic, and the crashed vehicles have been cleared from the road, allowing for a smooth flow of traffic.
“It is important to note that the FRSC rescue team was initially hindered in performing their duties due to an attack by local youths from the Oba community who claimed the crash was caused by certain people and insisted representatives representatives of those people before any rescue could be done. The team had no option than to leave but, returned after the police and other armed agencies arrived.
“The Sector Commander, Anambra State, Corps Commander Joyce Nnennaya Alexander, has expressed condolences to the families of the deceased victims.
She advised motorists against dangerous driving and route violations, especially on the expressway.
She also appealed to the public to allow FRSC teams to carry out rescue, and clearing of obstructions as any delay could cause loss of lives.
