Two Corps Members Dead, Others Injured in Bayelsa Accident

Two National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members have died while two others are battling for their lives in a hospital in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, after a heavy duty truck collided with a tricycle they were travelling on around the state capital.

All the victims survived the first accident, but were being rushed to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) when they were hit by another vehicle resulting in the deaths of Victor Adegua and Omafuakpor Godwin.

The deceased were said to be travelling with Obieze Chukwuemeka and Alaromi Olumide, the survivors, and had left Koluama 2, the place of their primary assignments in Southern Ijaw for Yenagoa to undertake their clearance at the NYSC office.

The accident occurred on the Goodluck Jonathan bridge in Swali, Yenagoa, the state capital, around 3.30 p.m. last Monday.

A tricycle driver, Bayaninu Ali, who was injured in the second accident, said: "I was driving my Tricycle when another one that was rushing the injured people to the hospital hit me. I think my fellow driver was in a hurry. He didn't watch carefully and that was why the accident occurred."

Narrating the incident, the Vicar of St. John Anglican Church, Koluama 2, Rev. Emmanuel Chikwendu, described the incident as unfortunate.

He said: "We came together to Koluama. We arrived at Yenagoa at about 10a.m. They went for their clearance. They finished it and were on their way back when a tipper hit them on Swali Bridge."

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Asinim Butswat, who confirmed the incident, said the bodies of the deceased had been deposited in the morgue.

According to him, "At about 1330hrs, four youth corpers boarded a tricycle from Akaba to Swali  in Yenagoa, got to Swali  bridge and in an attempt to overtake another vehicle, the tricycle collided with a tipper with registration number SAG 242 XA.

"The injured corpers were rushed to FMC Yenagoa for medical treatment, where a doctor confirmed two of the corpers, one Omafuakpor Godwin and Adegua Victor dead. Their corpses were deposited at the morgue for autopsy while the injured corpers are responding to treatment as investigation is ongoing."

Speaking on the incident, the state Coordinator, NYSC, Loto Omolayo, said the corps was saddened by the tragedy.

"Four corps members serving in Bayelsa State were involved in a road accident at Swali Bridge in Yenagoa and were immediately rushed to the Federal Medical Centre.

"The tricycle they boarded was hit by a tipper and unfortunately, two of the corps members died as a result of injuries sustained during the accident, while two are being treated by a team of competent consultants at the FMC.

"The NYSC family is saddened by these  sudden losses. We have also informed and commiserated with the families on this unfortunate incident. We pray for the repose of the souls of the dead and quick recovery of the injured corps member,” she said in a statement.