In a dramatic rescue operation, eight school children have been saved from a severe motor accident in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital.
The incident occurred on Thursday near the popular Lokongoma market, involving a heavy-duty truck carrying a container that fell onto two smaller vehicles.
The children, all pupils of the Kingdom Heritage Nursery and Primary School, were on their way home when the truck lost control and toppled over, trapping them inside one of the vehicles.
The quick response of local authorities, including the Nigeria Police, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), and other relevant agencies, was crucial in ensuring that all the children were safely rescued.
Retired Commodore Jerry Omodara, the Kogi State Security Adviser, was present at the scene and confirmed that, fortunately, no lives were lost in the accident.
“Thanks to the combined efforts of our security and emergency response teams, we were able to rescue the children without any fatalities,” Omodara stated.
Eyewitnesses described the scene as chaotic, with bystanders and officials working together to free the trapped children.
The swift and coordinated response highlighted the importance of readiness and collaboration in handling emergencies.
The cause of the accident is still under investigation, and authorities are urging motorists to exercise caution, especially around school zones and markets where traffic can be unpredictable.
This incident has also sparked a conversation about the safety measures in place for transporting school children and the need for stricter enforcement of road safety regulations.