Siblings on their way to church on Easter narrowly escaped death at the hands of an Akwa Ibom reckless bus driver at Amawom Oboro along the Umuahia-IIkwuano-IIkot Ekpene federal road.
The siblings who were rushed to different hospitals had the most critically injured taken to the Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia, by the Mayor of Ikwuano LGA, Hon. Osinachi Nwaka, who was on his way to church with his wife and son when he ran into the accident.
Speaking on the incident today, the mayor said, “While people were busy chasing the driver, I was busy trying to rescue the wounded. I had to change my plan and take the injured to the Federal Medical Centre Umuahia.
“It was a painful day, and I am appealing to the Federal Government to come to the rescue of Ikwuano people by fast-tracking the reconstruction of the Umuahia-IIkwuano-IIkot Ekpene federal road by expanding it and putting up road signs.”.
He further advised the Akwa Ibom motorists who drive at extremely dangerous speeds to be cautious, stating, “I don’t know what would have been the end of the story for the injured if I had not rescued them.”.
Hon. Nwaka, who also owns a foundation, the New Era Foundation, that is geared towards service to humanity, said, “I cannot see pain, I cannot see suffering, and I cannot come to the rescue. I must come to the rescue”, stating that as Jesus Christ sacrificed for humanity, “I cannot see my brothers and sisters that are in pain, and I will not sacrifice. So, this gesture is part of giving back to society and humanity.”.
He advised the Federal Government and Abia State Government to convene a meeting with Akwa Ibom drivers and warn them to put road signs up, as well as sensitise the people to be careful when crossing the road.
Also reacting, the father of the victims and a businessman, Prince Nkemakolam Yadel Okiyi, expressed his thanksgiving to God that none of his children died in the accident, disclosing that he was at home when he was called, adding, “Before I got there, the Mayor of Ikwuano, Hon. Osinachi Nwaka, had taken them to various hospitals.”.
“Only one of them, my first daughter, was in a critical condition but is recovering. I want to thank God first and then the mayor. We never had his like before in Ikwuano LGA. I have never seen a thing like this where he left all he was doing and took my injured family and gave them succour,” he said, praying for him.
According to him, the Akwa Ibom driver left his lane and hit the tricycle his children were travelling with, adding, “They all sustained injuries.”.
He noted that the Umuahia-IIkwuano-IIkot Ekpene road is a federal road, and the federal government is working on it “but it is not anything near completion. The job is not properly coordinated because they are doing it in different stretches.
“So, they need to put in more efforts to make the road motorable and then put in markers on the road, signs for safety, and all that,” he said.
Meanwhile, Abia State Government is helpless over the dangerous manner in which drivers from Akwa Ibom drive through the road, and Ikwuano people have suffered many deaths at the hands of the drivers, which have killed over 100 people in many years.
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