Bello’s chief of staff, wife, child survive auto crash

Barely one week after Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello was involved in an auto accident in Lokoja, which has left his left foot on plaster cast and forced him to walk with the aid of crutches, his Chief of Staff, Mr. Edward Onoja, was on Thursday also involved in an auto crash along Abuja-Lokoja road.

Bello fell off his BMW car last Thursday in Lokoja by the Old Market while returning to the state from Abuja when he attempted to spray money to some residents while his car was still in motion.

Onoja, his wife and their baby, were involved in the crash.

Source close to Government House, Lokoja disclosed yesterday that the accident occurred shortly after Abaji about 5 pm when the Chief of Staff was returning from Abuja.

According to the source, Onoja’s Lexus Jeep swerved from the road and crashed into the bush, leaving him and his wife unconscious, while the baby was unhurt.

The cause of the accident could not be immediately ascertained.

It was further learnt that motorist passing by stopped over to rescue the victims from the wrecked vehicle, as the Jeep was said to have summersaulted several times before ramming into a tree that waged it.

It was also gathered that frantic efforts were made by the rescuers to unstrap the victims trapped by the seatbelts.

The source said Onoja, his wife and the baby were rushed to a private hospital in Abuja.

However, officers of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) were also on hand during the rescue mission effort.

However, Sector Commander of FRSC, Kogi State Command, Segun Martins, when contacted, said the area was not within his territory.

Meanwhile, Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Kogi State chapter, Taufiq Isa and hundreds of Muslims, yesterday, prayed for the quick recovery of Bello.

The prayer, led by the Chief Imam of Odokoro-Gbede, Sheikh Shaidu Arikeuyo, was offered immediately after the two Rakat Jumaat prayer today.