The Anambra State Special Anti-Tout Squad and a tipper were involved with an accident in the state’s Idemili South Local Government Area, and the Federal Road Safety Corps has balmed route violations.
According to PUNCH Online, four agents from the Anambra State Special Anti-Tout Squad perished and others were injured when their truck collided with a tipper filled with sand.
The accident included three vehicles: a private Toyota Hummer bus with the registration number UWN763XA, a government-owned Toyota Hummer bus with no registration number, and a Mercedes Benz tipper. On Friday, it occurred near New Road Junction on Oba’s Onitsha-Owerri Road axis.
Our correspondent learned that the driver of the Toyota bus collided with the tipper as it drove out of a traffic intersection during their daily stop and search operation. In a statement issued on Friday, Margaret Onabe, Sector Public Education Officer for the Sector Commander, Anambra State, ascribed the disaster to a route violation that resulted in a head-on collision.
Onabe disclosed that five male adults were involved in the crash, while four males lost their lives, and one was injured.
She stated, “The rescue operation was carried out by Anambra State Anti-tout personnel.” The Federal Road Safety Corps personnel is currently regulating traffic, and the crashed vehicles have been removed from the road, allowing for a smooth flow.
“It is crucial to note that the FRSC rescue crew was first hampered in carrying out their duty owing to an attack by local teenagers from the Oba community who claimed the incident was caused by certain people and demanded representation of those people before any rescue could take place.”
The squad had no choice but to leave, but they returned when the police and other armed forces came.
“The Sector Commander for Anambra State, Corps Commander Joyce Nnennaya Alexander, has extended condolences to the families of the deceased victims.”
Onabe warned vehicles to avoid reckless driving and route infractions, particularly on the freeway.
She also urged the people to allow FRSC teams to rescue and clear blockages, as any delay could result in loss of life.