At least, four staffers of Akwa Ibom Newspaper Corporation (AKNC) are alleged to have died in an auto crash in Ekpene Ukim in Uruan local government area of Akwa Ibom State on Wednesday.
AKNC owned by the state government is the publishers of The Pioneer newspapers.
The accident was said to have occurred as the staffers were returning to Uyo from Uruan local government area after attending a traditional marriage of the daughter of one of the administrative staffers in the corporation.
An eye witness said the driver who ran speed was said to have lost control along a sharp bend on the dual carriageway leading to Victor Attah International Airport, Uyo.
In the bus of The Pioneer Chapel, Nigeria Union of Journalists, four staffers were alleged to have lost their lives, four were unconscious including the driver while the rest sustained serious injuries.
The surviving ones were said to have been rushed to the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Uyo while some were taken to other privately owned hospitals.
Straightnews reporter called on telephone one of the AKNC senior staffers, Mr. Ossom Asaka whose wife is alleged to be one of the victims, but his telephone was switched off.
Speaking with Straightnews, Mr. Dominic Akpan, a senior staffer in the corporation confirmed the sad incident, saying that Bassey Nkponam, a senior staff writer with Pioneer was also involved.
Akpan who is also the state secretary of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) mourned with some of the departed souls and prayed for the quick recovery of the surviving ones.
The Federal Road Safety Corps has said that four members of staff of the corporation died in a motor accident along Uyo-Oron Road.
The Sector Commander of FRSC, Mr. Sunday Oghenekaro, stated this to NAN in Uyo on Thursday.
Oghenekaro attributed the accident to overloading and speeding, stressing that the 14-seater bus was conveying 22 persons.
“Twenty-two persons were involved in the lone accident, comprising six male adults, 14 female adults and two female children.
“One male adult and three female adults lost their lives in the accident.
“This shows that the vehicle was overloaded and on speed, possibly the driver lost control, the vehicle somersaulted several times, killing four persons on the spot, while 18 persons sustained several degrees of injuries,” Oghenekaro said.
He explained that 18 injured persons were rescued by Governor Udom Emmanuel’s motorcade, which was coming from Ibom International Airport when the accident occurred.
According to him, the injured are receiving treatment at Ituk Mbang General Hospital and those in critical conditions have been sent to Ibom Specialist Hospital in Uyo.
He said, “A 14-seater bus conveying 22 persons showed that the vehicle was overloaded, which we preach against.”
The commander appealed to drivers to plan their journeys and begin on time to avoid rushing and accidents.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Akwa Ibom State Council, has cancelled the football matches, scheduled for Thursday, December 12.
This, according to a press release, followed the unfortunate accident on Airport Road this evening, in which some staff of Akwa Ibom Newspaper Corporation, publisher of Pioneer Newspaper are feared dead, while others are critically injured.
The release signed by Dominic Akpan State Secretary said the Union condoles with the Pioneer Chapel and staff of AKNC over the losses.
However, the Award/Dinner ceremony holds as scheduled on Friday, December 13, at Watbridge Hotel and Suites, Uyo.
