….We are innocent – Taskforce team cries out
From Emmanuel Uzor, Awka
No fewer than five persons were crushed to death as a trailer carrying bags of cement rammed into vehicles and tricycle conveying traders at Eke Awgbu market, Orumba North Local government area of Anambra State.
The incident which happened in early hours of Tuesday left many people dead with some of the victims’ bodies dismembered while many others sustained life threatening injuries.
It was however gathered that the accident involving a Howo truck belonging to BuA group occured when the driver was allegedly trying to escape from some members of taskforce team over revenue.
Though Anambra State Government through the Anambra State Internal Revenue Service denied complexity in the accident, eyewitness said stick wielding men were allegedly seen running after the Ill fated truck which led it to skid off the road and rammed into the densely populated market.
“This time around, the murderous band of Monday hammer wielding thugs have descended on a trailer carrying bags of cement and in the process of pursuing it, the trailer lost control of its brakes and set off a blood chilling carnage leading to loss of the lives of innocent bystanders” an eyewitness said.
Meanwhile, the Federal Road Safety Corpse, FRSC, Anambra State Command said the fatal road traffic crash occured at Green Energy Oil and gas by Eke Awgbu along Agulu-Agwubu Road.
The FRSC Acting Sector Public Education Officer, Margaret Onabe said a commercial howo truck belonging to BUA group also crushed a commercial TVS/Tricycle with registration number: NZH84LG.
” A commercial QLINK/MOTORCYCLE with registration number: OLU245QV, a private Honda/Motorcycle with no registration number.
“The probable cause of the fatal road traffic crash was excessive Speed/brake failure. According to eyewitness, the driver of the truck was on speed, had a brake failure, lost control of the vehicle, and collided with the other vehicles at a check point and crashed.
“Eleven persons were involved in the crash comprising (9male adults, and 2 female adults) 5 male adults and 1 female adult sustained varying degrees of injury and 4 male adults and 1 female adult were killed.
Before the arrival of FRSC rescue team from RS5.35 Igboukwu, the injured victims were rushed by passerby to Referral Health Centre Awgbu and the dead victims deposited at St Joseph’s Mortuary Adazi Ani.