Three members of a family have died in a tragic road accident while returning from crossover prayers in Rivers State.
The accident occurred in the early hours of Thursday, January 1, 2025, on the Obiri Ikwerre flyover. Residents told Daily Trust that the victims were on their way home to Rumuokini in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area when their vehicle rammed into a stationary sewage truck on the flyover.
Those who lost their lives were the father, identified as Mr Ahmed, his five-year-old daughter, Sheila, and his brother, Azeez. It was gathered that the vehicle was being driven by the first son of the family, a fashion designer, who sustained life-threatening injuries alongside other occupants of the car. They are currently receiving treatment at a hospital.
Confirming the incident, the spokesperson of the Rivers State Police Command, CSP Grace Iringe-Koko, said two persons died on the spot, while others were rushed to the hospital for medical attention. She added that investigations had commenced to determine the cause of the accident.
Meanwhile, the family of the deceased has blamed the crash on the alleged indiscriminate parking of a waste collection truck on the flyover. Speaking to journalists, Ahmed’s brother, Engr. Amoo Muideen Ajiboye, alleged that the truck was parked without any caution signs, contrary to standard safety procedures.
“It is so unfortunate that a waste collector truck parked on the Obiri Ikwerre flyover caused this accident,” he said. “The incident claimed three lives — Ahmed, his daughter Sheila, and his brother Azeez. Other occupants of the vehicle are still unconscious in the hospital.”
He called on the Rivers State Government and relevant waste management authorities to thoroughly investigate the incident, urging them to hold those responsible accountable and prevent similar occurrences in the future.
