Eight pupils of Mama’s Academy escaped death by a whisker while they were returning from their graduation ceremony after a container fell on their vehicle at Lokongoma market in Lokoja, the capital of Kogi state.
TORI reported that the driver of the articulated truck lost control and was reversing when he collided with the cars on Thursday afternoon, July 25, 2024.
The container on the truck, which was not properly latched, fell on the two cars with eight school children.
It was gathered that good Samaritans successfully rescued the children from the two crushed vehicles, a Mitsubishi car with registration number Abuja RSH 241 FH and one Corolla with registration number Kogi LMA 190 AA.
The owner of the Corolla car 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
The Secretary to the Kogi State Government, Dr Mrs Folashde Ayoade Arike, the State Security Adviser, Commander Jerry Omadara, the state Information Commissioner, Kingsley Fanwo and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) commander, Sunday Samuel Oyedeji, who arrived at the scene coordinated the rescue operation.
Dr Ayoade, who was full of praise to God and the people who helped to rescue the children, said that the driver of the truck would be prosecuted for violating the law on latching the container onto the truck to prevent it from falling.
“I want to thank God most sincerely for sparing the lives of the children. These are children coming from their graduation ceremony and looking forward to starting their long holiday,” she said.
“I also want to, on behalf of the state government, thank everyone who were involved in the rescue operation, it shows that Kogites are kind people, and the state government really appreciate everyone for this.”
She disclosed that the children have been taken to the state Specialist Hospital for medical checks before they will be released to their families.
Also speaking, the State Security Adviser, Commander Jerry Omadara (rtd), affirmed that the driver will not go unpunished for not doing the right thing against 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 SGS has said, he will be prosecuted”
The Sector commander of the Federal Road Safety Corp, Sunday Samuel Oyedeji, attributed the accident to brake failure.
He warned drivers to always do proper checks on their vehicles before hitting the road to prevent accidents of this nature.
