By Felix Ekwu
Facts have emerged that no life was lost in the backup vehicle that veered into a ditch from the convoy of the Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, during an inspection visit to the Second Niger Bridge on Tuesday in Asaba, the Delta State capital.
Other top government functionaries in the convoy were the Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola and his Labour and Employment counterpart, Christ Ngige.
The spokesperson for the Delta State Police Command, DSP Bright Edafe told NewsNet Nigeria on Wednesday that there was no fatality resulting from the “minor accident” involving one of the backup vehicles conveying security operatives.
Edafe explained that the picture being painted about the accident is not correct insisting that it was minor and no life was lost.
According to him, the victims were treated for the minor injuries they sustained and discharged.
An eyewitness, John Okorie, had told The PUNCH that the incident occurred when the vehicle conveying the victims was negotiating the bend leading to the construction site of the Second Niger Bridge in Asaba.
According to him, “The policeman driver was speeding and while negotiating the bend because of the speed could not control the vehicle. They crashed into a deep pit. I was at the back of the convoy, driving slowly.
“With the help of other people, we rescued four of them but they were badly injured. They were shouting as the vehicle fell on them.”