Eight schoolchildren returning from an end-of-term party escaped death Thursday evening as a truck loaded with tractors fell on the two cars in which they were travelling.
The accident occurred at 4pm in Lokongoma Market along Okene/Kabba Road in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital.
When LEADERSHIP visited the scene of the accident, all the eight schoolchildren were successfully rescued from the two crushed vehicles comprising one Mitsubishi car with registration number Abuja RSH 241 FH and one Toyota Corolla with registration number Kogi LMA 190 AA which was parked in front of the owner’s shop.
Secretary to the Kogi State Government, Dr. Folashade Ayoade Arike, led top government officials including the State Security Adviser, Commander Jerry Omadara, the State Information Commissioner, Kingsley Fanwo, and the State NSCDC Corps Commander, Sunday Samuel Oyedeji, to the scene coordinate the rescue operation.
The Commissioner who expressed dissatisfaction with the conduct of the truck driver vowed that the said driver will be prosecuted.
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The owner of the Corolla, who identified himself simply as Adama, said that all eight children were successfully rescued from the car without any of them sustaining any form of injury.
Dr Arike Ayoade disclosed that the children have been taken to the state specialist hospital for checking before they will be released to their families.
Also speaking, the State Security Adviser, Commander Omadara, echoed the SSG’s position that the driver will not go unpunished for allegedly violating the law of the state.
“We have warned repeatedly that every container should be latched on to the back of the truck carrying them; just like the SSG has said, he will be prosecuted,” Omadara said.
