Geoffrey Anyanwu, Awka
A crash involving a heavy-duty truck loaded with cement and a tipper lorry has claimed six lives at Ibughubu market, Umuchu, in Aguata Local Government of Anambra State.
The accident which occurred at about 1:45 pm on Tuesday was said to have killed the two drivers of the vehicles and four other persons, while property worth millions of naira were destroyed and several traders injured.
A similar accident occurred at the same market on October 12, 2015, and claimed 22 lives, including masquerades when a truck driver lost control of his vehicle due to brake failure and rammed into a crowd of people celebrating New Yam festival in the town.
An eye witness to the accident involving a tipper with registration number, JJT-421XG, and a truck fully loaded with cement said it also claimed the lives of one of the conductors and two traders who were in their shops.
Mr. Joshua Agbasiri, said the two trucks had collided before they rammed into market stalls.
He said: “The cement truck was on high speed. It pushed the tipper to the other side of the market, forcing it to destroy shops and inflict injuries on some shop owners.”
Agbasiri however, called on the government to quickly install speed breakers on the road to save the lives of the people as the spot was becoming a death trap.
Chairman of Ubughubu village, Mr. Titus Ike, said the accident broke through three shops, belonging to one Okwudili Egbobuike and Nonso Ezekwelu.
He said: “Nonso’s own was worse because it broke into three shops, with the owner and his mother as victims.
“There were other people I don’t have their details because I have not been to the hospital. Our kinsman, Aaron Ononuju, who is about 65 years of age was a victim; his body has been taken to the mortuary.
“We are currently embarking on a peaceful demonstration to the palace of our traditional ruler and other leaders of the community. We are going to install speed breaker on this road tomorrow because we are tired of this re-occurring accidents.
“This place is a valley, ending around the market area. We don’t want people to be killed here again. Two years ago, we lost nine persons on the same spot. We lost two students here two months ago. We just lost three persons now.”