EBONYI
A Nigerian Army officer has reportedly lost his life in an auto crash which occurred along the road Leading to the home of senator elect, Ebonyi north zone, Barrister Onyekachi Nwebonyi.
He was said to be driving a Sienna car with a number plate EKY10B, Lagos line, whose name was given as Friday Nwokpor Ogbulemini has been reported dead following the auto-crash which took place on Ogbogbo Ekebeligwe Ishieke bridge in Ebonyi LGA of Ebonyi State.
Our source, Uche Okeagu, a commercial motorcyclist, said, Friday Nwokpor Ogbulemini, was in his car on that fateful Saturday night while driving from Nwori Isophumini Mbeke Ishieke in Ebonyi LGA to Ezza North LGA of the Ebonyi State.
Unfortunately, Friday when reached the Ogbogbo River, which has a fatal wooden bridge could not control his vehicular speed and fell off the bridge and his car turned upside down, while inside it with his younger brother, Chinedu Nwokpor Ogbulemini who sustained severe injuries during the incident.
Okeagu revealed that the driver and his younger brother were rushed to the hospital immediately but unfortunately, the former later died, whereas, the latter is still receiving treatment in the hospital.
He also disclosed that Friday’s corps has been deposited in the mortuary at Alex Ekwueme Federal Teaching Hospital (AEFETHA 1).
Another source, Chief Lazarus Nwoyibe, the village head of Ekebeligwe Mbeke Ishieke in Ebonyi LGA, lamented the terrible condition of the Ogbogbo bridge where the motor accident took place.
He noted that the bridge links Mbeke Development Centre and its Ebonyi counterpart, saying many lives have been lost at the spot due to its fatal condition, especially during the rainy season.
The community leader said his Ekebeligwe Ishieke village people spend not less than 2 million Naira yearly to rebuild the bridge to stave off its breakdown or being carried out by the river/flood.
Nwoyibe, however, called for government intervention, noting that the said Ogbogbo bridge is situated along Nwiboko Obobo road which connects Ebonyi and Benue State, but its horrible condition had affected movements and businesses in the area negatively.
Lending his voice, the President of the Federated Ekebeligwe Ishieke Association (FEYA) in Ebonyi LGA, Comrade Emmanuel Nwebonyi Oge, described the Nwiboko Obodo road as a Federal road, noting that it connects to Benue State from Ishieke axis in Ebonyi State.
He confirmed that many lives have been lost at the bridge because every measure put in place to reconstruct the bridge to a modern standard was not successful.
He noted that the community people have been supportive of the government in power, especially during the elections, and called for immediate action by the relevant authorities on reconstructing the bridge and asphalting the remained part of the Nwiboko Obodo road to avoid further records of such fatal casualties.
Others who interacted with our correspondents, FEYA Vice President, Samuel Nwoba, the leader of Ekebeligwe Ishieke Vigilante Security, Clement Nwanshi, among others disclosed that the deceased driver was reportedly in high speed in the night hours of last Saturday with no knowledge of the deplorable nature of the bridge, the spot where he had the accident.
They also commended the outgoing Governor of Ebonyi State, Chief David Umahi who had asphalted the Ndiebor Ishieke axis of the said Nwiboko Obodo road and appealed to the incoming government to intensify its efforts to complete the Mbeke Ishieke axis of the road and as well construct the bridge in the modern class to avoid further occurrence of such ugly incidences in the area.