Eight school aged children were successfully rescued unhurt in Lokoja, the Kogi state capital, when a truck fell on the cars they were in, according to officials of the Federal Road Safety Corp (FRSC) in the state.
The FRSC Sector Commander in the state, Mr. Samuel Oyedeji, confirming the incident to reporters, said the incident happened at Lokongoma market in the Lokoja metropolis around 5.30 p.m.
The two smashed vehicles were: a Toyota Corolla car with registration number Kogi LMA 190 AA with no occupant, and a Nissan car with registration number Abuja RSH – 241FH with eight school children.
He said that the accident occurred when the fully loaded container, which was not properly latched on the trailer, fell off and landed on the two parked cars along the road.
“The truck lost brake when it couldn’t climb the Lokongoma small hill began to roll backward.
“As it rolled back, it hit one of the parked cars, which made the container which wasn’t properly latched fell on the two vehicles and trapped the eight children inside one of the vehicles.
“Thank God, we were able to mobilize rescue team with the help of the people, who rescued the eight children; four males and four females.
“We have rushed the eight children to Kogi State Specialist Hospital, Lokoja for proper medical check-up.”
He said that their parents had gone to buy something for them in a shop, when the incident happened.
“We have been campaigning that a container must be properly latched on your trailer at any point in time yet the truck drivers don’t comply.
“We are going to prosecute the driver of this trailer to serve as a deterrent to other drivers.
“Though the driver of this trailer ran away, we go after him and get him arrested and prosecuted,” Oyedeji said.
The sector commander stressed the need to relocate the market and others away from the road to avoid casualties.
One of the owners of the smashed vehicles, Mr. John Adama, speaking to reporters said it was a miracle that the trapped eight children were all rescued alive.
“I am the owner of the Toyota Corolla car, which was one of the two vehicles that were smashed by the container.
“The whole thing happened in my presence at about 3:30pm.
“I parked the car in front of my shop with nobody inside the car, but all of a sudden, I heard a big sound.
“The trailer had a failed break, and started coming backwards, then dragged my car and the other car along, before its container now fell on the two cars.
“There were eight school children inside the other car, but thank God they were all rescued alive.
“It was my own car that held the container from compressing the children in the other car; it was indeed a great miracle.
“I thank God for using my car to save the lives of the children.
“I am appealing to the Government to come to my aid by replacing the car for me because I don’t have any other means of survival,” Adama said.
The Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr Folashade Ayoade, while speaking at the scene, expressed her gratitude to God for miraculously saving the lives of all the eight children unhurt.
“I want to thank God most sincerely for sparing the lives of the children.
“These are children coming from their graduation ceremony and looking forward to starting their long holiday.
“I also want to on behalf of the State Government to thank everyone who were involved in the rescue operation.
“It shows that Kogi residents are kind people, and the state government really appreciate everyone for this,” she said.