Several Persons Die In Aba Bloody Auto-Crash

Traders and visitors at the popular Aba abattoir located on the ever-busy Aba-Ikot Ekpene Expressway in Aba North Local Government Area of Abia State were Thursday morning thrown into mourning as an articulate truck carrying textile materials rammed into the market, killing several persons.

The accident occurred on Ahia Udele by East axis of the Aba abattoir off, the Aba-Ikot Ekpene road at about 9:00 am at the peak of the early morning rush hour which is usually accompanied with traffic jam that forces vehicles to move in a snail pace.

While a report has it that 10 (ten) persons died, another had it that 7 (seven) persons were confirmed dead on the spot with several wounded persons taken to different hospitals by their loved ones.

Our Correspondent who visited the scene of the accident reports that efforts were being made to pull the said articulated truck out of the scene in order to give way for the recovery of the dead bodies trapped under the failed truck.

Personnel of the Eziama Police Divisional Headquarters and Abia State Fire Service were on ground to ensure that things didn’t go out of hand at the time of The Nation’s visit to the scene of the incident.

Narrating the incident, an eyewitness who gave his name as Obinna said “from what we learnt, the truck parked where it was supposed to be offloaded. They said that the truck climbed the wooden wage to descend the hill before it rammed into the market.

“If the driver didn’t swing into the market, the damage would have been more as here is greeted with traffic jam.”

Another eyewitness who stated that he escaped death by the whiskers said “I was standing by the roadside when I heard people screaming and just when I turned to know what was happening, the truck was almost where I was standing.

“I immediately jumped without knowing where I was going to land. Luckily, I dived into the gutter, but the truck diverted and landed where it landed.

“I cannot ascertain how many people that died. I am hearing seven. Some say nine, others said ten, as we speak, I am still traumatized as I saw death, but God said it was not yet my time.”

According to our correspondent who reports that two commercial tricycles were trapped under the truck with blood stains, stated that the many shop owners and sympathisers could not hold their emotions as the body of one of the shop owners in the market that was trapped under the crashed truck was retrieved from the scene.

A lot of respondents who spoke at the scene of the incident called for the ban of movement of heavy duty trucks within the day if such incidents should be avoided.

In a statement by the Commissioner for Trade and Investment, Mr. John Okiyi on the incident read

“Following the sad and shocking incident of a loaded trailer losing control and falling into the abattoir located at Waterside River area of Ogbor Hill, Aba, Abia State, the Governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu has directed the immediate closure of the abattoir/cattle market and the proximal Ahia Udele market.

“All those currently doing business in the above markets/abattoir should immediately relocate to the following locations:
1. New Omuma Uzor Abattoir in Ukwa West
2. Good morning Market, Aba, for those currently in Ahia Udele.

“The Governor also directed the Ministry of Homeland Security to work with relevant security agencies in ensuring compliance.

“While we mourn with those who lost loved ones in the unfortunate incident which occurred earlier today, it is important to state that the Ministry of Trade and Investment had long commenced processes to relocate the markets in line with public health advice received from the Ministry of Environment and other relevant agencies.

“This gave rise to the acceleration of processes for the completion of the new abattoir which should be ready later this month.

“The ministry wishes to appeal to those concerned to ensure full compliance with the directive to relocate without delay while we assure them that the ministry will do everything possible to ensure that they are properly settled to continue doing their businesses within a safer and healthier environment.”