• Two female varsity students shot by phone robbers
Six people died on the spot on Saturday night when a Mac truck loaded with chippings rammed into four stationary mini-buses filled with passengers at the busy Imo State University Junction in Owerri.
The Guardian learnt that the crash occurred at about 7:00 p.m. In another incident, two female students said to be from the Imo State University, Owerri, were shot dead the same night by hoodlums who also dispossessed them of their phones, at the Bishop’s Court axis, on the outskirts of the institution.
An eyewitness at the scene of the accident said the truck had been descending the Ugwu Orji hill, when it experienced a brake failure and rammed into the buses, having avoided collision with another truck loaded with gas.
The witness said some victims were initially buried under the chippings before they were rescued. The incident resulted in a heavy traffic gridlock.The victims included a lecturer at one of the tertiary institutions in the state, two 100-Level students who matriculated recently, businessmen and women, and an aged vulcaniser.
The driver was said to have narrowly escaped jungle justice. Confirming the incident in a statement, police spokesperson in the state, ASP Henry Okoye, said only six persons died. He said efforts were in progress to contact the families of the deceased and injured, and apprehend the driver of the truck.
There were unconfirmed reports that more than 20 people died. The injured were said to be receiving treatment at the Federal University Teaching Hospital, Owerri.
Commissioner of Police, Aboki Danjuma, commiserated with the families, friends, and relatives of the deceased. Meanwhile, Governor Hope Uzodimma has directed immediate response team including security agencies, that assisted in taking the injured victims to hospitals and the fatal ones to the mortuary, he has further directed the State Commissioner for Health to follow up and ensure that adequate medical attention is given to those on admission.
He has equally directed a holistic investigation into the accident with a view to identifying the culprits who should be made to face the full wrath of the law.
He regretted the avoidable loss of lives, including those of innocent students whose future has been abruptly arrested as a result of this tragic event.
While condoling with the bereaved families, the governor assured that necessary measures would be taken to ensure that such a deadly tragedy does not recur at that particular junction.
