Eight Pupils coming from the graduation ceremony in one of the private schools in Lokoja escaped death, as a fully loaded container, on Thursday fell on two vehicles conveying the lucky kids.
Our correspondent who visited the scene reported that the school children were returning from their school graduation ceremony and we were travelling in a Mitsubishi car with registration number Abuja RSH 242 FH and made a stopover for some shopping while the children were in the car.
Eyewitness account told our correspondent that the the truck had a brake failure and was rolling backwards but luck smiled on the children when another car a Corolla with registration number Kogi LMA 190 AA parked in front of the owner’s, Adama shop served to block the reversing truck from climbing the car occupied by the children, and the container fell on both cars.
The owner of the Corolla, identified as Adama said that all eight children were successfully rescued out of the car without any form of injury.
Following the accident, the Kogi state government has vowed to prosecute the driver of the truck for failing to latch the container onto the truck.
The Secretary to the Kogi state government, Dr Folashde Arike Ayoade dropped the hint while visiting the scene of the accident alongside other government officials including the Information Commissioner, Kingsley Fanwo and the State Security Adviser, Commander Jerry Omadara.
“The driver will be made to account for his actions for failing to do the right thing”.
The SGS who was full of praise to God and the people who helped to rescue the children said that the driver of the truck will be prosecuted for violating the law on latching the container onto the truck to prevent it from falling.
” I want to thank God most sincerely for sparing the lives of the children, these are children coming from their graduation ceremony and looking forward to starting their long holiday.
“I also want to on behalf of the state government that everyone who was involved in the rescue operation, it shows that Kogites are kind people, and the state government really appreciate everyone for this” she said.
Dr Arike Ayoade disclosed that the children have been taken to the state Specialist Hospital for checking before they will be released to their families.
Also speaking, the state Security Adviser, Commander Jerry Omadara echoed SGS’s position that the driver will not go unpunished for not doing the right thing against the law of the state.
“We have warned repeatedly that every container should be latched on to the back of the truck carrying them, just like the SGS has said, he will be prosecuted”
The Sector commander of the state Federal Road Safety Corp, Sunday Samuel Oyedeji attributed the accident to brake failure. He warned drivers to always do proper checking of their vehicles before hitting the road to prevent accidents of this nature