A truck laden with container has killed a pregnant woman and 5 others at the Ahia Udele market in Aba, Abia State.
The truck which was coming from the East street axis lost brakes at River Layout area and rammed into the market with two tricycles trapped under the wreckage.
The six persons were brought out dead including the pregnant woman, a trader and the driver and passengers of a tricycle which was mangled in the crash.
A tricycle rider, Abel, who sustained leg and hand injuries, said he jumped out of his truck when he noticed that all was not well with the truck
Eyewitnesses told Pointblanknews.com that the number of the dead victims would have been reduced if not that the driver of the truck was avoiding many tricycle riders on the road which forced him to crash into the market
“The truck was coming from East Street to the market area when it lost its brakes. With the way the driver was speeding down the hill, we suspected that there was a problem. Within seconds, the truck rammed into the market, killing keke riders and passengers at the market, a pregnant woman and the man who sells plastic materials were killed. More people would have been killed because this is a busy area; there were too many people who came to buy meat at the abattoir. I think the driver could have diverted to the other lane but he would have crushed over 20 keke riders. ”
Sympathizers had commenced rescue efforts using axes to break the wreckage from where they brought out 6 corpses. The state government later deployed machines which helped to break the wreckage.
Before the rescue efforts went on, the owner of the 40 feet container laden with fabrics hired people who offloaded the over 500 bales of fabric. It took the efforts of Policemen, who cordoned off the area, to prevent hoodlums from stealing the offloaded fabrics scattered on the road.
The East street/River Layout had been cordoned off by policemen and operatives of the Homeland security led by their Commander, Mr. Chigozie Ubani.
Commander, Federal Road Safety Corp, (FRSC), Abia State, Mr. Paul Ugwu, lamented that his men who came to the area to assist rescue efforts were chased away by hoodlums.
Abia Govt seals Ahia Udele market, orders traders, butchers to relocate
Following the auto crash, Abia State has directed the sealing of the Aba waterside market.
Commissioner for Trade and Investment, Chief John Okiyi Kalu, in a statement, said the government has directed the immediate closure of the Ahia Udele market which also houses the Ogbor Hill waterside abattoir and directed them to relocate to the abattoir at Omuma Uzo in Ukwa West and the Good morning market in Aba South council areas.
“All those currently doing business in the above markets/abattoir should immediately relocate to the New Omuma Uzor abattoir in Ukwa West and the Good morning Market, Aba, for those currently in Ahia Udele.”
The government pledged to ensure to ensure that the traders operate in a safer and healthier environment and commiserated with those who lost their loved ones in the incident.
Abia State Deputy Governor, Sir Ude Oko Chukwu, who visited the site of the crash, tasked the Police and the Commissioner of Homeland Security, Mr. Sopuruchi Nwabeke, to ensure compliance with the government directive.
