Auto Crash Claims 12 Lives On Minna-Zungeru Highway

The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), has confirmed the death of 12 persons in a ghastly motor accident on the Minna-Zungeru road recently.

The FRSC Sector Commander, Mr Tuma Dalok, told Newsday that most of the victims were children and women, believed to be travelling for a wedding ceremony in Kontagora Town.

He said the accident occurred around 1 P.M. some 35 kilometres from Minna Township, when the vehicle had a burst tyre and somersulted, killing 10 persons on the spot, including the driver.

The FRSC Commander said that two other passengers died at the Minna General Hospital from injuries sustained, while 18 others were currently receiving treatment at the hospital.

Dalok attributed the accident to over-speeding and dangerous driving, saying, ``I will reiterate my appeal to motorists to avoid dangerous driving and over speeding''.

He also urged motorists to avoid buying `tokunbo tyres' as such tyres easily burst during long journeys adding: ``they are not reliable at all, motorists should endeavour to buy new tyres at all times.

``Only on Monday, a tipper crushed some persons to death in Minna and last Saturday another auto crash had caused the death of two persons at Pago Village close to Minna.

The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr Ogbonna Onovo, has said that the payment of ransom to secure the release of kidnap victims encourages the vice.
This was contained in a statement by the Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), Mr Emmanuel Ojukwu, an ACP, recently in Abuja.

It said Onovo, who is currently touring the South-Eastern states ``frowned seriously at the attitude of some citizens who pay ransom to kidnappers, to secure the release of their beloved ones”.
The statement said the IGP warned that the police would take “serious action against persons who encourage the vice" by such payment.

It urged that cases of abduction should be reported promptly to the police.
``The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has over 400 kidnappers in its custody and had rescued many victims from the clutches of criminals,” the statement added.