Four anti-tout operatives die in Anambra crash
Four operatives of the Anambra State Special Anti-Tout Squad have died, while one other was injured after their vehicle collided with a tipper truck.
Our correspondent gathered that the driver rammed into the tipper which was driving out of a junction during their daily stop and search operation of the operatives.
According to eyewitnesses, about eight persons were in the branded Toyota Hiace bus carrying the anti-tout operatives before the incident occurred.
Speaking to our correspondent, one of the eyewitnesses, who identified herself simply as Chinwe, said, “The branded Toyota vehicle had about eight young men as the occupants and was running at full speed before ramming into the tipper fully loaded with sand.
“The operatives were on their routine stop and search operation when they rammed into the tipper which was coming out from another junction of the road.
“After the accident happened, the occupants of the vehicle were trapped and passers-by were the ones bringing out their bodies. More than four lifeless bodies littered the road while those injured were rushed to the hospital.
“The incident has caused panic on the road as motorists and residents battled in the traffic caused by the situation. The incident happened this morning (Friday).”
The Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Anambra State, Margaret Onabe, confirmed the accident to Saturday PUNCH, attributing the probable cause of the crash to a route violation, resulting in a head-on collision.
She noted that five male adults were involved in the crash, adding that four lost their lives while one other was injured.
Onabe said, “The rescue operation was carried out by Anambra State Anti-tout personnel. The Federal Road Safety Corps team.
“It is important to note that the FRSC rescue team was initially hindered in performing their duties due to an attack by local youths from the Oba community who claimed the crash was caused by certain people and insisted on representatives of those people before any rescue could be done. The team had no option than to leave but returned after the police and other armed agencies arrived,” she said.
