TRAGEDY struck at Achohol Village near Aliade Town in Benue State yesterday morning as a Mercedes Benz 1414 bus conveying Mobile Policemen from Port Harcourt, Rivers State collided with a 911 truck, killing 27 of the officers and three civilians.
The Guardian learnt from an official of the Benue State Police Command that the Mobile policemen were travelling to Jalingo, Taraba State from Port Harcourt after they had completed their special duty in Rivers State. The police officer said that the accident took place at about 4 a.m. yesterday.
A resident of Achohol, Joshua Tar said that he was sleeping in the early hours of yesterday when he heard a loud bang outside. On getting outside, he heard people shouting for help from the wreckage of the two vehicles. Along with other villagers, Tar said he was able to assist two policemen who were still alive at the time.
Thereafter, he said that the villagers rushed to the Aliade Police Divisional Headquarters to report the incident.
The officers and men in the station he said moved over to Achohol village, where they took the bodies of the dead and survivors to a public hospital in Aliade.
The scene of the accident as at press time was still attracting people from different parts of the state, who trooped to the area to have a glimpse of the accident. It was a painful sight as people wailed openly over the tragic loss of 30 persons, in a single crash.
Speaking on the accident after he visited the scene in company of the Benue State Deputy Governor, Chief Steven Lawani, the state Police Commissioner, Mr. Udom Ekpoudom, described it as a ‘national tragedy’. The commissioner said that it was unfortunate that the officers died while returning from a national duty.
He prayed for the repose of the souls of the departed policemen, saying that his heart goes out to the victims’ families.
Lawani expressed shock at the tragedy that claimed the lives of the policemen and civilians. He said that the state government would liaise with the Taraba State government to ensure that the families of the policemen were not neglected.