Five executive members of the National Association of Nigerian Students ,NANS,were yesterday killed in a ghastly motor accident in Ariam area around Ikwuano, Abia state.
The students were said to be on their way to Uyo, the Akwa Ibom state capital to negotiate peace between the students of the University of Uyo and their students following the crisis that erupt there on Tuesday.
Among the dead was NANS’s Senate President, Mr. Donald Onukaogu, who was leading the delegation to Uyo.
Onubogu was a student of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Imo state.
Others who lost their lives in the accident were Assah Ejeita from the Federal Polytechnic, Nekede, Owerri, Duru Jacob, Assistant Secretary General of NANS, Zone B, one Japheth, and another representative of the student’s body whose full name could not be ascertained as at press time.
Seven others who survived with serious injuries were rushed to the Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia, where they are currently receiving treatment.
The accident occurred along the busy Umuahia -Ikot Ekpene Federal road, when the Hiace bus conveying the students rammed into a trailer coming from Akwa Ibom state . It was reported that the trailer lost control, hence the course for the deadly accident.
Both the dead the injured have since been taken to the Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia.
Abia state Governor, Chief Theodore Orji immediately visited the injured victims at the hospital where they were receiving treatment when the report of the accident reached him.
Taking Governor Orji round the casualty ward where the injured students were receiving treatment, Dr. Kalu, a medical doctor in charge of the ward said that the accident victims and the dead were brought to the hospital in the morning.
Dr. Kalu confirmed that their vehicle was said to have been involved in a head-on collision with a lorry at Ikwuano on their way to Uyo, Akwa Ibom state.
Governor Orji sympathized with Nigerian students over the death of the five union executives.
Orji described the incident as “a calamity and sympathetic” even as he cautioned drivers to be more careful while driving, urging them to always maintain manageable speed limit.
The Governor said that the casualty level would have been minimal if the drivers were not on high speed.
According to him, the incident was disheartening as the victims were the future leaders of the country.
Abia state police command confirmed the incident.
However, the villagers were said to have resisted police from removing the corps from the bus, insisting that government authorities must come to see the deplorable condition of the road.
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