No fewer than five yet-to-be-identified persons yesterday lost their lives in a ghastly accident along the Bayelsa State Airport road, leaving several persons severely injured.
According to an eyewitness account, the accident which took place along the NLNG junction axis of the Airport Road in Yenagoa Local Government Area about 4 pm on Thursday, involved two tricycles and a Toyota Venza.
The Airport Road which is also a link from the State-owned Niger Delta University, Amassoma to the ever-busy Tombia Roundabout, is popular for ghastly accidents involving mostly heavy-duty trucks and tricycles.
According to sources, three persons amongst the deceased are indigenes of Ekpetiama Kingdom, who were travelling to Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital.
The Ibenanaowei of Ekpetiama Kingdom, His Royal Majesty, King Bubaraye Dakolo, who took to his Facebook account to express his grief over the deceased, wrote “NEVER AGAIN SHOULD TRAGEDY STRIKE! There was a ghastly road accident in Ekpetiama Kingdom along Tombia – Amassoma Road by about 4 pm yesterday.
“There has been broken bones and broken hearts. There has been weeping and wailing across the land, as a consequence. It is so sad. It is always sad when tragedy strikes. May the souls of the departed find eternal rest. Never again should tragedy strike! The tragedy, the said tragedy, claimed six solid lives!”
When contacted, the Public Relations Officer of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Bayelsa Sector Command, Victor Udoh, simply said “sorry, it did happen. Yes, 5 persons died from the accident that involved a car and two tricycles.”
In a report Mr Udoh later sent to Tribune Online, the Head of Operations in the command, Mrs Mariam Benamaisia, was quoted as commending the state government for donating operational vehicles to the corps, which makes their duty to keep roads safe in Bayelsa relatively easier.
Parts of the statement reads, “the state coordinator of special marshals, Chief Douglas Awudum, solicits government’s assistance to enable the group to carry out its humanitarian service.
“Awudum, who is the Minority Leader of the Bayelsa House of Assembly, urged road users to respect special marshals as well as obey traffic rules for their safety.”
YOU SHOULD NOT MISS THESE HEADLINES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
We Have Not Had Water Supply In Months ― Abeokuta Residents
In spite of the huge investment in the water sector by the government and international organisations, water scarcity has grown to become a perennial nightmare for residents of Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital. This report x-rays the lives and experiences of residents in getting clean, potable and affordable water amidst the surge of COVID-19 cases in the state…Five persons feared dead Five persons feared dead
Selfies, video calls and Chinese documentaries: The things you’ll meet onboard Lagos-Ibadan train
The Lagos-Ibadan railway was inaugurated recently for a full paid operation by the Nigerian Railway Corporation after about a year of free test-run. Our reporter joined the train to and fro Lagos from Ibadan and tells his experience in this report…Five persons feared dead Five persons feared dead
and then