The family of an accident victim in Tahoss District of Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State has raised the alarm, alleging that personnel at a checkpoint manned by Operation Safe Haven (OPSH) closed the case of a fatal accident involving their son, without transferring it to the police.
The accident happened last Saturday night along the Jos-Forest Road, killing one Emmanuel Ali, a 34-year-old father of eight. The family is accusing the driver of the vehicle number ABC-551KK, Mr. Patrick Nindam of knocking down the deceased, an allegation the driver denied, saying it was the deceased that ran unto him.
According to Comrade Daniel Tanko who is a relation of the deceased, the driver knocked down and killed his cousin, who was on a motorcycle, on the opposite lane, adding that the driver had to rush to the headquarters of Sector 9 of the OPSH to report.
“We went to the police station in Riyom to report the accident. The police sent their traffic personnel to Sector 9, but the military officers at the checkpoint refused to release the driver, whom we are suspecting of killing our brother. The officers at the checkpoint closed the case and released the driver to go,” Tanko said.
However, the driver, Mr. Nindam said as a law abiding citizen, he ran to the checkpoint to report the accident.
“All he (Tanko) said was not true. I was detained at the military checkpoint. The military released me only after an agreement was reached between me and the family as well as the chief,” Nindam said.
When contacted for reaction, Captain Adam Umar, Media Officer of the OPSH confirmed that the Army Colonel heading Sector 9 released the driver of the vehicle on account of “a mutual agreement the driver and the family, together with the chief of Tahoss made.”
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