3 Journalists Die In Oshiomhole Convoy’s Crash

Posted by admin Edo, State News Sunday, April 29th, 2012

TRAGEDY struck yesterday in Edo State, as three journalists attached to Edo State Government lost their lives in an auto crash that involved Governor Adams Oshiomhole’s convoy.

The governor escaped death when a truck rammed into his convoy on Afuze road, Owan East Local Government Council of the state where he received those who defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to his party, the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).

However, Messrs George Okosun, Fidelis Ohani, Olatunji Jacob were not that lucky.

Okosun and Jacob were staff of the Independent Television and Radio, a private broadcast station, while Ohani worked at the African Independent Television (AIT). According to a statement by the Special Adviser to the Governor, Tony Iyare, the accident occurred about 12.45pm, shortly after the convoy, passed Warrake. The lorry had lost control, veering off its track and heading straight for the Governor’s car missing it by the whiskers. “It later hit the Toyota Land Cruiser conveying security details, which immediately somersaulted. The lorry also hit the bus conveying the Government House Press Crew.”

Jacob reportedly died on the spot while others died in the hospital.

A photojournalist with The Nigeria Observer, David Acher and another driver simply identified as Samson were both in a state of coma as at press time.

There were about 11 journalists in the two vehicles attached to the press crew of the Government House.

Those who survived the accident suffered various degrees of injury, and were taken to three different private hospitals in Auchi, headquarters of Etsako West local Government for treatment.

Those, whose conditions were described as critical, were later transferred to the Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua in Esan Central Local Government Council.

The journalists were taken to the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Benin City, for further examination and treatment.

According to Iyare, “Oshiomhole, visibly shaken by the unfortunate event personally supervised the ferrying of the casualties to the hospital. He later paid condolence visits to the bereaved families.

Meanwhile, the planned rally to kick off of Oshiomhole’s campaign in Edo South Senatorial Zone scheduled for yesterday was put off as a result of the incident.

-Guardianwp_posts