Mob attacks FRSC officers over accident

An angry mob on Wednesday attacked the officials of Federal Road Safety Corps, Akwa Ibom State Command, over an alleged negligence that resulted in a ghastly accident on Tuesday night.

The accident involved a broken down MAC truck and a speeding Honda Pilot SUV, which rammed into the truck. The accident was said to have occurred at 9.45pm.

An eyewitness, Mr. Edet Okon, told our correspondent that the only occupant – the driver – who was drunk, survived the accident by quick intervention of good Samaritans.

Punch Metro learnt that the medics at the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital battled to save the SUV driver, who was taken to the hospital unconscious.

Another eyewitness, Mr. Uforo Udoka, said the truck broke down at Abak Road Flyover around 6.30pm on Tuesday.

He said, “When the truck broke down at the foot of the bridge, we sensed the problem could lead to a very serious accident as the truck broke down on the speed lane. An oncoming vehicle driver would not know what lies in front of him.

“Some people sent distress calls to the FRSC to send their men to control the traffic and to place warning indication that will signal danger to oncoming vehicles. It was believed that the FRSC negligence caused the accident.”

The Public Relations Officer, FRSC, Akwa Ibom State Command, Mr. Godspower Uwen, confirmed the incident.

He said the accident was quite unfortunate. He said as the FRSC officials were trying to clear the road and to warn oncoming vehicles of the danger ahead, the Honda Pilot SUV driver, who was believed to have been drunk, rammed unto the stationary truck.

Uwen blamed the accident on logistics, saying that the command did not have its own towing vans to evacuate any broken down vehicles in the state.

He said, “Immediately we received the calls that there was a broken down truck on the foot of Abak Road flyover, we mobilised our men to the area.

“We called on the towing van firms to supply us with some of their vans so that we could move the broken down truck away, but none of them answered us of the time.

“We have made many requests to the state government to provide us with tow-truck, the government has yet to answer us.”

He said that the FRSC officials did not cause the accident and condemned the mob attacks on his men.