Black Sunday as 4-month-old baby, 13 others die In Lagos-Badagry Expressway auto crash

 

.12 killed in Plateau fresh attacks.

.Gov Mutfwang imposes 24-hr curfew on Mangu LGA

.As military commander relocates base to area

 

From Daniel Dauda, Jos

 

 

No fewer than 14 persons, including a four-month-old baby, died on Sunday morning in an auto accident along Lagos-Badagry Expressway in Lagos.

Mr Williams Manga, Unit Commander, Federal Road Safety Corps, disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Badagry on Sunday.

Manga said that nine other persons sustained injuries in the accident, which occured at Agemowo axis of the road, around 7. 31 a.m.

He said a commercial bus (Mazda) with registration number MUS 411 XU carrying 19 passengers and coming from Lagos, was involved in a collision with a granite truck with registration number AKM 926YQ coming from Badagry.

“The accident occured around 7.31.a.m. when it was raining heavily along Lagos-Badagry Expressway.

“My men got to the scene of the accident at about 7.41.a.m. and took the injured to General Hospital Badagry, while the dead were deposited at the mortuary of the hospital.

“Out of the 14 casualties, eight of them are male passengers, five female and one four-month-old female child.

“The accident was caused by speeding by the two vehicles while it was raining heavily,” he said.

The commander said that the driver of the truck was not affected.

 

The truck that was involved in fatal accident along Lagos Badagry expressway on Sunday.

Manga urged motorists not to exceed speed limits and to always have routine vehicle checks, for prompt detection and replacement of faults.

NAN correspondent who visited the accident scene reports that some people there could not hold back tears.

 

Mrs Theresa Avoseh, one of those at the scene, said the people involved in the accident were returning home after celebrating with their relations at Makoko, in Lagos.

 

“The bus, loaded around 5.30.a.m., was going to Seme with people who went to celebrate with their relatives,” she said, adding that the accident occurred while it was raining heavily.

 

Dr Olatunde Bakare, the Medical Director, General Hospital, Badagry, said 10 of the victims were brought in dead.

He said that while his staff were attending to the injured ones, four more succumbed to death, which raised the number to 14.

 

Bakare said that they were doing their best to save the lives of the nine surviving passengers.

 

He urged motorists to drive safely on the highways, especially during this rainy season.

 

NAN reports that five members of a family, on Feb. 13, were feared dead in an auto crash at the same axis along the expressway.

 

Meanwhile, Residents of Farinkasa Kerana and Sabon Gari communities in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State were on Sunday thrown into mourning following fresh attacks by gunmen which left 12 persons dead

 

A grieving resident, Mathew Habila, who confirmed the incidents in Jos on Sunday said the victims were killed in their houses on Saturday night

 

He lamented that the gunmen also set many houses on fire leaving the two communities deserted.

 

Habila said ” We have our people killed again in another attack last night. This time,12 People were killed with several others injured, and many houses were burned by Fulani Militia at Farinkasa Kerana and Sabon gari communities in Mangu Districts of Mangu Local government.

 

“The incidents happened at about 10:30 pm 08/07/2023”

 

Efforts to get the Police Public Relations Officer in the State, Alabo Alfred to comment on the incidents proved abortive as his phone lines were switched off.

 

Meanwhile, kinsmen of Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau state under the aegis of the Mwaghavul Development Association have renewed calls for the federal government to declare the Miyeti Allah Cattle breeders association as a terrorist organisation.

 

Making the call at a press conference in Jos shortly before the latest attacks, the National President of MDA, Chief Joseph Gwankat noted that since April 2023, members of MACBAN had attacked 53 communities and killed 204 persons in Mangu LGA, where the state Governor hails from.

 

He said, “It is in the public domain that MACBAN has been hiring foreign mercenaries to attack communities, including ours.

 

“Our villages have been deserted due to these attacks and have become grazing fields for the  Fulani herders. So far, a total of 204 of our people  have been killed in 53 attacks carried out by them

 

“We, therefore, strongly suggest that the Federal Government should declare MACBAN a terrorist organisation because of the heinous crimes that its members are perpetrating in various parts of Nigeria.

 

“We urge the Government to take full responsibility for educating children below the age of 10 who have lost both parents as a result of the attacks, while arrangements are made for the SS3 students whose WAEC Exams were disrupted as a result of these attacks”

 

However, Plateau state Government has imposed a 24 hour dust-to-door curfew in Mangu Local Government Area to curtail further killings in the locality.

 

Governor Caleb Mutfwang who made the Sunday, said the imposition of the 24-hour is as a result recent attacks that led to loss of lives and properties.

 

The decision came barely 24-hour after Mwaghavul Development Association (MDA) raised alarm over continued attacks, killings and forceful occupation of their ancestral lands by the Fulani militias.

 

A statement by Mr. Gyang Bere, Director of Press and Public Affairs revealed that Governor Mutfwang, in consultation with the State Security Council, imposed the curfew on the entire Local Government Area to restore law and order.

 

“Consequently, movements within the Local Government have been banned until further notice except for security personnel and persons on essential duties.

 

“Security agencies have therefore been directed to ensure total enforcement of the curfew.”

 

Meanwhile, the governor has assured the people that government is working round-the-clock to restore peace and security in the state.

 

Meanwhile, Maj.-Gen. Abdusalam Abubakar, the Commander of Operation Safe Haven (OPSH), on Sunday temporarily relocated headquarters of the operation to Mangu Local Government Area (LGA) of the state.

 

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that OPSH is a Special Military Task Force, maintaining peace in Plateau and environs.

 

Abubakar, who doubles as the General Officer Commanding (GOC) , 3 Division of the Nigerian Army, Rukuba, moved to the area barely 24 hours after he assumed command.

 

The decision followed a Saturday night attack on Sabon Gari community of Mangu LGA, where 12 persons were killed and six houses completely razed down.

 

According to the commander, the move would enable him work in synergy with the local authority to mitigate the situation.

 

“’I have relocated the headquarters of OPSH here so we can work with the local authority.

 

“We will stay here until we stabilise the situation

 

“The governor is disturbed with the happenings, and that is why I am personally here to lead my troops.

 

“We won’t allow the situation to deteriorate further. We are not here to joke; and so we will be decisive, fair and firm,” Abubakar said.

 

NAN also reports that communities in Mangu have recently come under series of attacks, with many deaths recorded, properties and farmlands destroyed, and many persons currently displaced.