- 3 people killed, including a lawyer, in truck crash in Utu Etim Ekpo, Akwa Ibom State.
- Truck loaded with flour crashed into shops after driver refused to stop at soldiers’ checkpoint.
- Driver lost control, veered off road, and crashed into makeshift shops.
- Locals blame poorly constructed roundabout for frequent fatalities.
- Allegations of altered road design during construction, involving politician and government officials.
- Survivor with severe injuries initially turned away by 2 hospitals.
- Military authorities and FRSC yet to comment on incident.
- Calls for action to address hazardous roundabout and prevent future tragedies.
Tragedy struck in Utu Etim Ekpo, Akwa Ibom State, when a flour-loaded truck crashed into shops, killing three people, including a lawyer, and injuring several others. The incident occurred when soldiers pursued the truck after its driver failed to stop at a checkpoint.
Eyewitnesses describe the horrific scene: The truck, traveling from Iwukem to Abak, refused to stop at the soldiers’ checkpoint. The driver lost control, veering off the road and crashing into makeshift shops.
Locals blame the frequent fatalities on the poorly constructed roundabout, alleging poor road alignment due to altered design during construction. A civil engineer familiar with the site claims a prominent politician from Etim Ekpo collaborated with government officials to alter the original road design.
A survivor with severe leg injuries was initially turned away by two hospitals before being rushed to the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital.
The military authorities and Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) have yet to comment on the incident.
Calls for action mount to address the hazardous roundabout and prevent future tragedies.
