8 killed in Benue road accident

At least 8 people have been killed in a fatal motor accident that occurred at Ngibo village along the Kastina-Ala – Zakibiam road in Benue State.

Witnesses said the accident happened on Tuesday afternoon, February 20, after two cars conveying passengers from the opposite direction had a head-on collision.

The witnesses said the mangled bodies of the occupants of both vehicles were removed from their trapped position by sympathizers and some security agents.

A resident in the area, who craved anonymity, claimed the exact number of people involved in the accident was 12 and that eight died on the spot but four others taken to the hospital have died as of Wednesday.

“The vehicle involved – golf car (commercial) had nine passengers while Nissan (private) had three passengers. The four that sustained various degrees of injuries and were conveyed to the hospital on Tuesday have died, bringing the total number of deaths to 12,” the resident said.

However, Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Benue State Command, Steve Ayodele, on Wednesday said that the accident occurred at 12:32 pm on Tuesday along Kastina-Ala-Zakibiam road at Ngibo village and only 10 persons were involved.

Ayodele said the accident occurred as a result of overspeeding while one of the vehicles tried to dodge a pothole otherwise, they would have been able to maneuver their way.

“It was a multiple accident involving two vehicles and it was fatal. 10 persons were involved – four female adults, five male adults, and one female child. Out of the 10, eight people died,” he said.

“The fatalities include four female adults three male adults and one female child. Two persons were injured and were taken to Kastina-Ala General Hospital for medical attention

“It was a head-on collision; one of the vehicles was trying to avoid a pothole and rammed into an oncoming vehicle,” the FRSC commander said.