Truck crushes eight commuters to death in Rivers


A truck conveying goods has crushed eight commuters to death at the Ogoni axis of the East-West Road.

The incident which occurred on Monday caused gridlock on the axis of the road which has dilapidated to a terrible state.

The apex youth body in Ogoni, the Ogoni Youth Federation (OYF) condemned the death of 8 commuters. The group also accused the Federal Government of complicity in the death of the travellers.

Reacting to the incident, the President-General, Comrade Legborsi Yamaabana of OYF who spoke with newsmen said the Federal Government is vicariously responsible for the ugly incident.

He declared the Federal Government vicariously responsible for the death of the eight people and noted that the ugly incident could have been avoided if the Federal Government had listened to the yearnings and series of protests by Ogoni youths to fix the road.

Though the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, said that contractors would be mobilised to site within two Yamaabana however, expressed surprise why the government jettisoned series of protests, concerted efforts and engagements by the youths regarding the road thus far, but chose to mobilise contractors to site now that lives have been lost.

“Could it be that the government wanted to spill blood first before performing their responsibility?” Yamaabana queried!

He called on government to expedite action without much ado and mobilize contractors to site before the end of October as promised, as a default of this last agreement would be seen as provocative and will leave the people of Ogoni with no option but to perpetually close down the road.

In the same breath, the President-General expressed deepest condolences to the bereaved families and prayed God Almighty to give them the fortitude to bear the irreplaceable loss of their loved ones.

He further called on Ogoni youths and all those affected directly and indirectly by the poor state of the road to keep calm as plans are underway to proffer a lasting solution.