Anambra State Government says it will offset medical bills of all the victims of the road accident which occurred on Friday, June 4, 2021, at the Kwata Junction in Awka, when the driver of a truck loaded with cows lost control and, in the process, killed eight persons as well as damaged some vehicles.
To this end, Governor Willie Obiano has directed a team of top government officials to ensure that the victims receive proper medical attention and, if necessary, take them to Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital, Awka, or any other hospital in the state for treatment.
A Press release signed by the Committee for Information and Public Enlightenment, Mr C-Don Adinuba, said the Governor has also directed the high-powered team to visit families of the deceased as well as the owner of the cattle involved in the accident, Mr Cosmas Chibuike of Umunnachi, Dunukofia Local Government Area of Anambra State, and condole with him for not only the death of the animals, but also the later killing of some of the animals by the mob, regretting that he has obviously suffered double tragedy.
He asserted that Government and people of Anambra State abhor jungle justice and all manner of mob behavior, as such behavior has no place in any civilized and decent society, as there are laid down procedures which aggrieved citizens and people take.
The release further warned that persons found guilty of irresponsible conduct in respect of the tragedy of last Friday will face the consequences of their action.
Governor Obiano, in addition, directed the high-powered team to visit the truck driver and any persons with him in the vehicle when the accident occurred, including Mr Muhammed Ndaji from Taraba State who is receiving treatment in a top orthorpaedic hospital in Awka.
Government also observed that some cows in the State are jointly owned by indigenes of the state, while experts from the Northern part of the country in a business arrangement popularly known as agbate ekee, which spells out not just the ratio of ownership but also the ratio of sharing both profit and loss.
According to government, the business model has been in existence for several decades, and there are hardly complaints of cheating or fraud, advising that the business relationship should be promoted in the interest of both parties as well as in the furtherance of national economic growth and unity.
It regretted that certain unpatriotic elements have been using the social media to impute all manner of meaning into the accident, capitalizing on the current frayed ethnic, sectional and religious nerves in the country to poison people’s minds.
It further maintained that without prejudice to the findings of the work of the panel which will look into the causes of the accident, the tragedy has underlined the critical need for big truck owners and drivers to constantly check the state of their vehicles before embarking on any journey, as well as adhere strictly to road safety rules like speed limit, especially in towns, cities and other places with high populations and economic activity.
It also warned drivers to avoid stimulants like alcohol and drugs.
The State Government commended security officers, Anambra State Fire Service officials, Anambra State Traffic Maintenance Agency as well as ordinary citizens who raced to the scene of the Kwata Junction accident and did their best to maintain law and order and also took victims to hospitals.
Government expressed delight that Anambra people always live up to the true meaning of their shared humanity and values.
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