-
Condole with Families
of Accident Victims
By Chukwudi Ebele
In response to a false social media post on Solakuti.com, titled "Oba Deadly Clash: Our Officers were Ambushed, Deliberately Killed by Tipper Drivers - SASA Spokesperson", eyewitnesses have disputed claims that tipper drivers ambushed SASA officers.
They have revealed that the tragic accident on the Onitsha-Oba-Owerri
Expressway, which resulted in several fatalities, was due to recklessness, with
SASA operatives themselves behind the wheel of the vehicles involved.
The God's Own Tipper Owners and
Drivers Association in Anambra State rejected allegations that tipper drivers
were involved in ambushing SASA officers. They clarified that the tipper garage
was neither a haven for criminals nor drug dealers.
Mr. Alochukwu Egbobe, the Unit
Chairman of Oba Old Road Junction Garage, shared his account of the events.
"On Thursday, January 30, 2025, while having breakfast at the garage, SASA
officers dragged and beat one of our drivers, Mr. Ifeanyi Okoli. When I asked
their team leader about the incident, he claimed Okoli had obstructed their
attempt to arrest a suspect," Egbobe explained. "Before he could
finish explaining, one of the officers kicked my plate, spilling my food on
me."
Egbobe further revealed that the
SASA officers arrested Mr. Okoli and another individual without resistance and
took them to the SASA cell at Down Flyover, Upper Iweka, where they allegedly
endured mistreatment.
The incident continued the
following day. "Before I arrived at the garage on Friday, January 31,
2025, I heard that SASA arrived with two buses, beat up five drivers and
loaders, and drove off with a blue tipper that was loading sand," Egbobe
continued. "The crash occurred soon after that."
Witnesses, Nnamdi Okwuchukwu
Isikomkom, Chairman of the Loaders, and Chukwunonso Agudosi, corroborated
Egbobe's statement. They confirmed that SASA operatives beat up drivers and
loaders without explanation. "The SASA officers forced Chibueze, the owner
of the blue tipper, out of the vehicle and arrested him and his loaders, using
violence. One officer jumped into the tipper, drove it onto the expressway,
with two buses following behind. The crash happened suddenly," they said.
Comrade Ogechukwu Ndozie,
President of the God's Own Tipper Owners and Drivers Association, extended
condolences to the families of the victims. "I pray for the strength to
bear the loss and the speedy recovery of those injured, including our drivers
and loaders who were in the bus during the crash," Ndozie said.
He emphasized that the
association had never been involved in criminal activity. "We've been in
existence for over 20 years without any issues. I am surprised by the false
claims against us, which I believe are an attempt to tarnish our image,"
he said, calling for better training and screening of SASA operatives.
Ndozie also criticized a
statement by SASA spokesperson Karen James, who named various figures,
including hotel owners, as alleged sponsors of the crash. Ndozie urged
journalists to conduct thorough investigations before publishing unverified
information.
Meanwhile, Nze Ifeanyi
Onwupenata, owner of Kaima Hotel, which was linked to the incident by SASA,
expressed his disbelief. "I was in Enugu at the time of the accident and
am puzzled by the false claims made against me," he said. "This
appears to be a deliberate attempt to damage my reputation."
Post a Comment