On Monday evening, a tragic accident involving a trailer and a commercial bus in Okpella, Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State, reportedly claimed the lives of at least 15 people.
The accident occurred when the trailer, coming from the Lokoja-Okene road, experienced a brake failure and collided with a Toyota bus filled with passengers.
Eyewitnesses at the scene reported the details of the incident, with the deceased individuals taken to the mortuary and the injured transported to the hospital for treatment.
The Edo State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Paul Okpe, did not respond to calls and messages for comment. Etsako East Local Chairman, Hon. Benedicta Attoh, expressed her condolences to the victims’ families and the people of Okpella in a statement, offering her sympathies and prayers for the injured to recover quickly.
The statement reads: “It is with a deep sense of sorrow that I commiserate with the families of those that lost their lives in a fatal motor accident along the Ewo Market Road in Okpella on Monday, September 25th, 2023.”
“Indeed, their deaths have caused great sorrow for their families. I wish to let the families of the victims know that our thoughts and prayers are with them in this moment of grief. It is not the will of God that we die before our time, but when something like this happens, who can question God”.
“On behalf of Etsako East Local Government Council, I extend our heartfelt condolences to the families of our departed brothers and sisters.
“Their untimely death has undoubtedly caused great pain to their families and I pray that such tragedy will never occur again in Jesus name, Amen.
“May God grant the families and loved ones the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss and may their souls rest in peace, amen,” she said.