National Telescope national telescope newspaper
Tragedy struck in Anambra State as four operatives of the Special Anti-Tout Squad lost their lives in a fatal road accident along the Onitsha-Owerri Road in Idemili South Local Government Area.
The crash, which occurred near New Road Junction on Friday, involved a private Toyota Hummer bus (UWN763XA), a government-owned Toyota Hummer bus without a registration number, and a Mercedes Benz tipper fully loaded with sand. Reports indicate that the squad’s vehicle collided with the tipper during a routine stop-and-search operation.
Reacting to the incident, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) attributed the accident to route violation, which resulted in a head-on collision. FRSC Sector Public Education Officer, Margaret Onabe, confirmed that five male adults were involved, with four fatalities and one person injured.
Onabe also revealed that initial rescue efforts were delayed due to interference from local youths in the Oba community, who insisted on certain conditions before allowing FRSC personnel to operate. The team was forced to leave but later resumed rescue efforts with the intervention of security agencies.
The Anambra State Sector Commander, Corps Commander Joyce Nnennaya Alexander, expressed condolences to the victims’ families and urged motorists to adhere to traffic regulations to prevent further tragedies.
She also called on the public to support FRSC officials during rescue operations, warning that any delays could lead to more casualties.
