Supporters of Akwa Ibom State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday razed a vehicle belonging to officials of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) at Ediene in Abak Local Government.
The
party supporters were inside a Toyota Hiace bus, said to be travelling to Port
Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, for the party’s convention when their
vehicle collided with another Coaster bus.
An
eyewitness said both drivers were on top speed when the FRSC flagged down their
vehicles.
It
was learnt that the driver of the Toyota Hiace bus lost control and
crashed into a Julius Berger bump on the roadside, thereby resulting in the
accident.
Although
the Toyota Hiace Bus somersaulted several times, it was learnt nobody died in
the accident.
An eyewitness told our reporter that 10 of the PDP supporters in the Toyota Hiace sustained different degrees of injuries and were rushed to hospital.
Angered
by incident, the PDP supporters in the Coastal, the eyewitness said, attacked
the four FRSC officials and set their operations vehicle ablaze.
The
officials of FRSC, it was learnt,
were also beaten up.
He
said: “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 the accident.
“We
thank God no life was lost, but many 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.”
FRSC’s
Sector Commander Mrs. Cecilia Alao faulted the eyewitness account.
She
noted that during political rallies, FRSC officials do not stop vehicles.
The
sector commander said both vehicles were fighting for the right of way, while
FRSC officials were on the roadside.
According
to her, one of the vehicles climbed a bump belonging to a Julius Berger,
resulting in the crash.
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Society