Road Accident Leaves Nine Dead In Edo

Nine persons were on Tuesday morning killed in a road accident involving a tipper and a commercial bus driver.

The accident occurred at about 6am along Upper Sokponba road near Oka market in Ikpoba-Okha local government area.

All the passengers in the commercial bus marked BEN 435 ZN died.

Six of the passengers including a pregnant woman died on the spot while others died at the hospital they were rushed to.

Eye witnesses said the tipper rammed into the commercial bus after it parked to pick a passenger.

The incident sparked protest from family members, friends and other commercial drivers plying the route.

Bon fires were set on the road while commercial drivers suspended work which made passengers to trek long distance.

The protesters set the tipper ablaze but the driver was not seen.

At the Central Hospital morgue, families were seen coming in to identify their relatives.

It was not however confirmed whether the baby in the deceased pregnant woman was rescued.

When contacted for comments, Edo Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Samuel Odukoya, confirmed the incident and said nine persons were confirmed dead.

He said the protesters prevented his men from getting access to the scene.

A bus driver who gave his name as Osas said they decided not to work to protest reckless driving of tipper drivers.