A somber mood has enveloped the Rumuokini community in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State following a fatal road accident that claimed the lives of three family members in the early hours of New Year's Day.
Details of the Fatal Collision
The tragic incident occurred on Thursday, January 1, 2025, on the Obiri Ikwerre flyover. According to accounts from local residents shared with Daily Trust, the victims were returning home from crossover night prayers when their vehicle collided with a stationary sewage disposal truck.
Those who lost their lives in the devastating crash were identified as Mr. Ahmed, his five-year-old daughter, Sheila, and his brother, Azeez. The vehicle was being driven by the family's first son, a fashion designer, who survived but sustained life-threatening injuries alongside other passengers.
Police Confirmation and Family's Anguish
The Rivers State Police Command spokesperson, CSP Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the accident. She stated that two persons died instantly at the scene, while the injured were rushed to a nearby hospital for urgent medical treatment. Iringe-Koko added that an investigation has been launched to ascertain the precise cause of the crash.
However, the grieving family has pointed an accusing finger at the alleged indiscriminate and unsafe parking of the waste collection truck. Speaking to journalists, the brother of the deceased Ahmed, Engr. Amoo Muideen Ajiboye, lamented the absence of any caution signs around the parked truck, a clear violation of standard safety protocols.
"It is so unfortunate that the waste collector truck parked at Obiri Ikwerre flyover caused an accident," Ajiboye said. "Eventually the incident took three lives... The other occupants of the vehicle are still unconscious in the hospital."
Calls for Government Action and Investigation
The bereaved family has issued a passionate appeal to the Rivers State Government and relevant agencies to address the recurring menace of illegally parked vehicles on major roads and flyovers. They highlighted that such negligent practices have led to numerous preventable deaths in the state.
"We call on the Government to look into this matter as this kind of acts have taken so many lives in Rivers State," Ajiboye pleaded. "We are appealing to the Government to do their investigation and look critically into this matter. We are calling on the waste management agency to call their contractors to order."
The survivors of the crash remain hospitalized, fighting for their lives, as the community mourns the profound loss of a father, his young child, and a brother in a single, heartbreaking event.
