ABUJA: One Shot Dead, Others Feared Killed As Truck Rams Into Tricycles
Scores of persons were feared dead and several others injured in a fatal road crash involving a truck and five tricycles.
Another person died after sustaining gunshot wounds as police officers tried to disperse the crowd that gathered at the scene of the incident
The incident occurred on Saturday at approximately 5 pm at the Dutse Tipper Garage Bus Stop in Abuja.
An eyewitness told THE WHISTLER that the truck possibly suffered a brake failure, lost control and rammed into the tricycles waiting to pick up passengers at the busy intersection.
The eyewitness, who simply identified himself as Emmanuel, said he got to the scene around 6:30 pm after closing from work.
“I met the accident, a trailer had a brake failure, and about seven people died and five tricycles was destroyed.
“Following the accident, people gathered to help and pull out the dead bodies that the trailer had fallen on top.
“The trailer fell on top of two tricycles. A passerby who came to help had to use jack to raise the keke, so that the dead bodies can be removed.
“Next thing, Nigerian police started shooting sporadically. Both tear gas and gun.
“That’s was how everyone started running for safety. I pray such a situation never happens again.
“The police officer mistakenly shot one boy in the process. The boy was rushed to Zone 1 health center here in Dutse, but he died there. I guess the bullet injury killed him.
“This Nigerian police lack professionalism, they saw that people were trying to help and offload all the rods that the trailer was carrying, to be able to remove the keke that it fell on top, and the dead bodies, all of a sudden they started shooting,” he said.
Attempts to reach the Federal Road Safety Corps, Kubwa division, via calls and a text message were unsuccessful.
POLICE REACT
When THE WHISTLER contacted the FCT Police Command PPRO, Josephine Adeh, concerning the alleged gunshot that killed one person at the scene of the accident, she said, “That’s a lie. No one was shot by a police officer.
“This is an accident matter and should be channeled to the FRSC. Of course, when incidents like this happen, our men will be on the ground to help with the situation.
“What I know is that there was an accident that involved a trailer and some keke, and it happened, I think, in Bwari.
“I will call the Bwari DPO who handled the situation to confirm if someone was shot, but I’m sure my men didn’t shoot anyone. I don’t know why they are trying to pin it on police officers.
“About seven persons were said to have died—mind you, some died in the hospital where they were taken to. So, anyone saying the police officers shot at (people) is lying.”
The command’s PRO called back and confirmed to THE WHISTLER that an SPU (special protection) convoy was said to have fired shots.
“I just called the DPO Bwari and Dutse. The Bwari DPO said his men did nothing but help to bring the situation under control. The DPO Dutse also said the same thing, but the DPO noted that there was a convoy that fired.
“The SPU convoy (special protection) that fired (shots), while probably coming from another state, but we are still investigating to ascertain that.”
ABUJA: One Shot Dead, Others Feared Killed As Truck Rams Into Tricycles is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
