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Anambra Police Commissioner, CP Echeng Echeng
BY SUNNY A. DAVID
The Anambra State Police Command has denied being the cause of an accident that happened on Friday along Onitsha-Owerri Expressway in Ihiala, which claimed two lives and left many others wounded.
Some eyewitnesses who made videos of of the accident scene had attributed it to a Police checkpoint along the road.
Reacting to this on Saturday, the State Command’s Spokesperson, DSP Toochukwu Ikenga said the accusation is totally false.
In a press release made available to our correspondent, Mr. Ikenga said the Police Commissioner, CP Echeng Echeng has commiserated with families of the two persons who died and nine others who were injured in the accident.
The Commissioner said contrary to claims that a Police checkpoint along the Expressway caused the accident, the Federal Road Safety Commission attributed the fatal crash to overspeeding and brake failure by a container-bearing trailer whose driver is one of the two persons that died in the unfortunate accident.
Commissioner Echeng said: “While the Police indeed have a stop and search point close to the scene of the accident, it is wrong to blame the Police for the unfortunate incident.
“The fact that only six vehicles were on queue on a dual carriage way as busy as that Expressway is evidence that the Police has been responsible and sensitive to the plight of the motoring public.
“And to ensure minimal delay as it conduct stop and search operations aimed at protecting not only Police facilities in the area from insurgents’ attacks but also the general public who are mostly at the receiving end of escapades by criminal elements.”
The Command also commended the officers of the FRSC for promptly rising to the occasion and partnering with the Police to get injured persons to the Hospital and clearing the wreckage from the road to allow for free flow of traffic.
He said drivers of container bearing trailers union were mis-informed about the cause of the accident, leading them to mobilize heavy trucks to the scene on Thursday evening to block the highway.
The Police Commissioner said: “The Nigeria Police wishes to appeal to the unionists to have a rethink in the interest of their fellow citizens and consider the plight of stranded travellers to remove the blockade from the highway.
“The Police will continue to explore peaceful means of resolving the imbroglio to prevent further loss of precious human lives.”
