FIVE executive members of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, were Thursday killed in a ghastly motor accident in Ikwuano area of Abia State on their way to Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital.
Seven others who survived with serious injuries were rushed to the Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia, where they are currently receiving treatment.
Those killed in the accident included, NANS Senate President, Mr. Donald Onukaogu, said to be the leader of the students delegation to Uyo and a student of Federal University of Technology, Owerri.
Others who lost their lives were Assah Ejeita from Federal Polytechnic Nekede, Owerri; Duru Jacob, Assistant Secretary General of NANS, Zone B; one Japheth and one other whose name could not be ascertained at press time.
The accident occurred at Ariam in Ikwuano Local Government Area of Abia State along the busy Umuahia -Ikot Ekpene road. The accident involved a Hiace bus conveying the students and a trailer from Akwa Ibom State which was said to have lost control before ramming into the bus.
The students were said to be on their way to University of Uyo to initiative peace between the students and the university following the riot which erupted there, Tuesday.
Both the dead and the injured were taken to the Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia.
Abia state Governor, Chief Theodore Orji visited the wounded at the hospital where they were receiving treatment when the report of the accident reached him.
Conducting the Governor Orji round the casualty ward where the injured students were receiving treatment, Dr. Kalu in charge of the ward said that the accident victims and the dead were brought to the hospital in the morning.
Dr. Kalu confirmed that their vehicle was said to have been involved in a head-on collision with a lorry at Ikwuano on their way to Uyo, Akwa Ibom state.
Governor Orji sympathized with Nigerian students over the death of five executives of their union.
Orji described the incident as “a calamity and sympathetic” even as he cautioned drivers to be careful while driving, urging them to always maintain manageable speed limit.
The Governor said that that the casualty level would have been minimal if the drivers were not on high speed.
According to him, the incident was disheartening as the victims were the future leaders of the country.
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