New Yam festival: 17 people, five masquerades feared dead in accident

•Obi condoles with victims’ families, Bayelsa governor
A road accident at the weekend claimed 22 persons, including five masquerades in Umuchu, Aguata Council Area of Anambra State.

The accident, said to have occurred at about 7.30pm on Sunday, involved a truck, which it was gathered lost control due to brake failure and rammed into a crowd of indigenes celebrating this year’s new yam festival in the town.

An eyewitness said that the lorry, a Mercedez Benz 911, lost its bearing while descending a slope and crashed into a heavy crowd of people.

The eyewitness, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said “17 persons and five masquerades died at the scene of the accident, adding that the new yam festival came to an abrupt end.

According to him, three other buses, fully loaded with passengers also involved in the mishap had mangled bodies.

Police Public Relations officer in the state, Mr. Ali Okechukwu, however, confirmed 11 deaths, while 21 others sustained serious injuries in the crash.

Okechukwu said the dead bodies had been deposited in nearby morgue while the injured persons were receiving treatment in various hospitals.

Meanwhile, Anambra State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano, had paid an unscheduled visited to Umuchu yesterday to sympathise with the community.

Governor Obiano promised to offset the hospital bills of all the injured and take care of the families of the deceased.

He also commiserated with the traditional ruler of the community, Igwe Goddy Ezechukwu, saying it was a big loss to the people. The governor, who directed the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) in the state to improve road safety measures to reduce road crashes, assured that government would start palliative work on the Umuchu-Umunze Road to avoid any recurrence.

Meanwhile, former Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi, has expressed regrets over the accident that claimed many lives in Umuchu yesterday.

In a message made available to The Guardian, Obi said the accident was a tragedy, not just for the town or Anambra State but for humanity at large.  Quoting Jonne Donne, he said: “Any man’s death diminishes me because I am involved in mankind.”

The former Anambra governor said he had already called the leaders of the town, including the traditional leader to express his condolences, and prayed to God to grant peace to the departed and courage to those they left behind to bear the mishap with equanimity.

In another development, he also condoled the Government and people of Bayelsa State over the death of the first Governor of the State, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, and prayed God to grant him eternal rest.