By PAMELA EBOH, Awka

The Anambra State government has announced plans to undertake the payment of medical bills for the treatment of all the victims of Friday June 5, 2021 truck accident at Akwata junction in Awka the state capital.

The accident, which was allegedly caused by brake failure of a truck ladden with cows killed eight people, including children cleaning car glass screens for a tip, and also mangled many vehicles.

The state Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, C Don Adinuba, in statement said that 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 better attention.

The statement read in part: "Governor Obiano has also directed the high-powered team to visit families of the deceased victims as well as the owner of the cattle involved in the accident, Mr. Cosmas Chibuike, of Umunnachi, Dunukofia Local Government Area of the State, and condole with him for not only the death of the animals in the accident but also the later killing of some of the animals by the mob. Mr. Chibuike has obviously suffered double tragedy.

"The Government and people of Anambra State abhor jungle justice and all manner of mob behavior. Such behavior has no place in any civilized environment. Like in every decent society, there are laid down procedures which aggrieved citizens and people take.

"Persons found guilty of irresponsible conduct in respect of the tragedy of last Friday will face the consequences of their action.

"Governor Obiano has, 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.

"Many cows in Anambra state are jointly owned by indigenes of the state and experts from the Northern part of the country in a business arrangement popularly known as 'agbate eke' which spells out not just the ratio of ownership but also the ratio of sharing both profit and loss."

While saying that the business model has been in existence for several years, he noted that there are hardly complaints of cheating or fraud.

He called for the business relationship to be promoted in the interest of both parties as well as in the furtherance of national economic growth and unity.

Adinuba regretted that certain unpatriotic elements have been using the social media to impute all manner of meaning into the accident of last Friday, capitalizing on the current frayed ethnic, sectional and religious nerves in the country to cause mind poisoning.

He added: "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 they set out every day with them on the road.

"They must also adhere to road safety rules like speed limit, especially in towns, cities and other places with high populations and economic activity. Drivers should also avoid stimulants like alcohol and drug.

"The Anambra State Government thanks security officers, Anambra State Fire Service officials, Anambra State Traffic Maintenance Agency as well as ordinary citizens who raced to the scene of the Akwata Junction accident and did their best to maintain law and order and take victims to different hospitals. Most Anambra people always live up to the true meaning of our shared humanity and our shared value."

Though government has given the number of casualties to be eight, security agencies had earlier given only given the number to be two.

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