TRAGEDY; Driver, conductor killed by mob after tanker crushes five school children to death
Five pupils of St Michael Nursery and Primary School Oshiri in Onicha local government area of Ebonyi State were on Tuesday, crushed to death by a speeding tanker.
CRIMECHANNELS gathered that the tragic incident occurred in front of the school gate on Tuesday afternoon.
The identities of the school children were given as Davis Nworie (6 years), Prosper Ogudu, (7 years), Tochukwu Nwankwo (6 years), Ada Igwe (5 years), and Peace Ifeanyichukwu (3 years).
According to an eye witness, the incident has thrown the school and the rest of the community into mourning.
It was learnt that the driver of the tanker appeared to have lost control of the vehicle as he was seen struggling with the steering to avoid hitting the school children but his efforts failed as he rammed on them killing five of them on the spot.
It was learnt that the driver of the tanker and his conductor, upon seeing what they had done, tried to flee by not stopping, however, they were caught by angry youths in the community, who pounced on both of them, killing them in the process.
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer for Ebonyi command, DSP Loveth Odah, confirmed the incident, adding that the dead bodies of the driver and conductor has been deposited at Onisha general hospital. She also said that their corpses haven’t been claimed by any relative yet.
“Yesterday through a distress call, the DPO of Onicha lga was contacted that an accident had happened. The accident had five school children killed, and an angry youths from the community attacked the driver and killed him and his conductor.”
“The driver, Ewa Innocent, is from Ameka Ikwo while the conductor, Ojim Danis, hails from Agharazo. Both of them are both lying in the mortuary.”
While sympathizing with the families of the victims, she urged motorists to drive with caution and observe all road signs and regulations while on the highway, especially during the ember month.
“Drivers should drive with caution. It is better to be late than to be permanently addressed as late. It is not just that they killed the children, it is true that accident is an unexpected occurrence but even as we are not expecting it, we should trade with caution because any recklessness can cause accident, “she said.
