Contrary to the widespread rumour that the mother of the three school children of the Army Children Primary School, Effurun in Delta state that were crushed to death last Thursday by a patrol tanker later passed on following the shock of the incident, NewsNet can report that the woman is still alive though in serious grief.
The Secretary, Uvwie Local Government Education Authority, Dame Rose Oghene and the Head Mistress, Army Children Primary School, Effurun, Mrs Kigho-Eba Dolly, confirmed that the woman is hale and hearty on Monday, when the Delta State Commissioner, Bureau for Special Duties, Mr Johnbull Edema visited the school to convey the government’s condolence to the school management and families of the victims of the accident.
Dame Oghene and Mrs Kigho-Eba told the Commissioner that out of the ten children that the tanker fell on, seven died on the spot while three are currently lying critically ill in three different hospitals.
They said that out of the seven that died five were boys and two girls while three were from one family and two from another family.
Giving further details on their identity, they said two of the three children from one family that died were twins, a boy and girl adding that three have been buried.
They gave the names of the children that died as Destiny Ohwe, Mario Uphuophu Great, Akpevwe Uphuophu Godstime, Ovie Omerhi, Bello Hassana, Bello Rafatu and Bello Hassana.
Those lying critically ill in hospitals are Samuel Okeke, Olalekan Samuel and Nasiru Bello.
Dame Oghene and Mrs Kigho-Eba said the scene of the incident was that which no one would wish to remember.
They however said some measures are being taken to forestall reoccurrence.
State Commissioner, Bureau for Special Duties, Mr Johnbull Edema who expressed the deep condolence of the State Government over the unfortunate incident Government critical measures would be taken to forestall last Thursday’s tragic petrol tanker accident that claimed the lives of the seven school children near the Army Barracks, Effurun in Uvwie Local Government Area.
Mr Edema said measures would be taken on schools that are exposed to high traffic of heavy-duty vehicles adding that in no distant time, all the relevant stakeholders would be brought together to come up with a position to help reduce such ugly incidence especially on the activities of tankers and heavy trucks.
The Commissioner later visited the family of Bello Hassana that lost three children at their residence at Mami market, Effurun, to sympathize with them.
Bello Hassana thanked the Commissioner for conveying the condolence of the State Government to them.
He said the family has decided to leave everything to God who knows best.
The Army Children’s School, Effurun where the deceased children and the three still battling for their lives were attending was founded in 1977.
Thursday, July 8, 2021, tragedy struck on the busy NPA Expressway, Effurun opposite the entrance to the Army Barracks, Effurun.
A tanker loaded with 45,000 litres of petrol during rush hours, somersaulted and killed the seven children and critically injured three other children of the Army Children School, Effurun.
