Some youths suspected to be the Peoples Democratic Party supporters in Akwa Ibom State on Wednesday razed a vehicle belonging to the Federal Road Safety Corps in Ediene, Abak Local Government Area of the state.
It was learnt that the PDP supporters were in a Toyota Hiace bus that was going to Port Harcourt, Rivers State, for the party’s convention when it collided with another coaster bus on the same trip.
Eyewitness, Edet Akpan, said both drivers were at top speed when the FRSC officials flagged down their vehicles. The driver of the Toyota Hiace bus was said to have lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a Julius Berger bump placed by the side of the road, resulting in the accident.
The eyewitness said there was no life lost.
Another eyewitness, Ibok Okon, however, explained further that 10 of the PDP supporters in the bus sustained different degrees of injuries and were rushed to a nearby hospital.
Okon said the PDP supporters in the coastal bus, who were enraged by the incident, attacked the four FRSC officials and set their operation vehicle ablaze.
Our correspondent gathered that the officials of the corps were seriously beaten as some of them went into coma.
“The PDP supporters are on their way to Rivers State for the convention, when the FRSC officials flagged them down. The driver lost control of the vehicle and hit a Julius Berger bump placed by the side of the road, thereby resulting in accident.
“We thank God there was no life lost, though many people were injured. The PDP supporters descended on the FRSC officials. They gave them the beating of their lives. Some of them ran into nearby villages.”
The Sector Commander in the state, Mrs. Cecilia Alao, refuted the claim by the eyewitness.
She noted that when on political rallies, officials of FRSC do not stop vehicles. She maintained that both vehicles concerned were struggling for the control of the highway while officials of the corps stood by the side of the road.
According to her, one of the vehicles climbed a bump that had been placed by Julius Berger and thereby resulted in traffic crash.
She said, “When on political rally, we don’t stop vehicles. We allow free passage and we don’t even pursue vehicles. So, the claims by the two eyewitnesses are wrong.”
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