…As Akwa Ibom Governor Umo Eno loses more kinsmen
Israel Umoh
Facts have emerged that the 12 officers (pastors) and two others of The Salvation Army, Nigeria Territory who perished in the tragic incident were indigenes of Akwa Ibom State, Straightnews online has gathered.
The auto crash is said to have occurred on Ovie River Road in Edo State along the Benin-Asaba Expressway claiming the lives of the clergymen and others who were heading to Akwa Ibom after a conference in Lagos.
The speeding Dangote truck is said to have hit the 18-seater bus from the rear resulting in the deaths of the occupants while the fate of six in the ill-fated bus taken to nearby hospital for treatment is not known yet.
Also read: Dangote truck crushes 12 Pastors, two others of Salvation Army
A senior member of the Church who spoke to Straightnews online on anonymity in Uyo on Monday, July 2 lamented that the tragedy has greatly depleted the population of senior officers in the church.
According to him, ”the accident would have been averted if the driver had hearkened to the advice of one Major Uwak. Uwak pleaded with the driver to wait so that they could move in a convoy, yet he disobeyed and left without waiting as instructed by the senior officer in the The Salvation Army. Unfortunately, he with the pregnant wife died in the incident.”
‘‘In the bus, one Major Obot from Ndukpoise Corps in Nsit Ubium; Lt/Mrs Akpan Umanah of Oron Corps, Major/Mrs Sampson from Ekom Iman in Etinan; Major/Mrs Ekere; Major Udobong (Mrs), Officer-in-charge of Rehabilitation Centre, Akai Ubium in Nsit Ubium; another senior member of the church together with the driver and his wife from the same family all died.
”However, Major/Mrs Ikpatt came out unhurt from the vehicle. Indeed, it was a miracle that a couple could come out from the decrepit vehicle other occupants had died” he narrated.
Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno hails from Ikot Ekpene Udo in Nsit Ubium Local Government Area and most of the deceased came from the area.
The retired civil servant and a senior member of The Salvation Army, Akwa Ibom Central Corps recalled ‘‘Major Udobong lost her husband in an auto crash some years ago. For Major/Mrs Umanah, they gave their daughter in marriage few months ago. While in Lagos, they obtained permission from the church in Lagos that they wanted to visit their daughter who is residing in Lagos with her husband. Allowed, they visited and returned to camp. Yet, that was their last visit to their son-in-law and daughter on this earth.’’
He said many of the deceased were known and close persons to him and came from Akwa Ibom Central Division, and prayed ‘‘God Almighty to grant the bereaved families the fortitude to bear the great losses.’’
Pastor Eno assures to assist bereaved families
Meanwhile, Governor Eno has assured that the state government would assist The Salvation Army Church and families of members who met their tragic end in an auto crash while returning from a church programme held at Lagos state.
This is even as five of those dead were said to be from the same family in Akwa Ibom. The Governor who said this while fielding questions from journalists in Uyo on Sunday on returning from an official trip outside the state described the deaths as devastating and painful.
He emphasised that that the calamity has befallen not just The Salvation Army Church but the entire people of the state. Eno noted that the deceased met their tragic end while returning from a church programme, a sacrifice he said they rendered to God and prayed for the repose of their souls.
“This is one of the things I have prayed not to do; to become a Consoler-In-Chief. It is devastating and painful. The tragic loss is not just to the Salvation Army but to Akwa Ibom people. “But again, God knows when we will all leave and how we will leave.
”It is particularly sad when considering that they were returning from a Church programme. “We can only pray for the repose of their souls. The State Government will do everything to support the Church at this time and of course the families that have lost their loved ones,” Eno added.
