An official of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps NSCDC, has been confirmed dead while a soldier and policemen were injured following an auto crash at Ibeku, along the Umuahia ? Bende- Ohafia federal highway in Abia state.

Vanguard gathered that the vehicle conveying the security operatives who are members of the state joint security taskforce which include personnel from the Nigerian Police, the Nigerian Army, and the NSCDC, veered off the road and plunged into a deep ditch due to the narrow and dilapidated state of the highway.

Motorists and some residents of the Ihie Ibeku community were said to have assisted to rescue the victims and took them to the Federal Medical Centre Umuahia before the arrival of the security agencies.

Eyewitnesses told Vanguard that at the time of the accident, there were 3 policemen, 5 NSCDC officials and a military personnel who are members of the state joint security taskforce ?Operation Crush?.

A member of the security team on the vehicle was declared missing but was later discovered to have disembarked on the highway before the crash.

?Out of the 10 security operatives onboard, one officer from the NSCDC was confirmed dead, while eight others sustained serious injuries and were rushed to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) in Umuahia. We heard that one security operatives had disembarked along the highway before the accident occurred and was initially declared missing but was later found alive,? the eyewitnesses said.

Contacted,Police Public Relations Officer,Abia State Command,DSP Maureen Chinaka,said she doesn?t speak for ?Operation Crush?.

Otti condoles victims

Meanwhile, Governor Alex Otti has condoled with the leadership of the State joint security taskforce over the unfortunate crash involving personnel which led to the death of a member of the team while others sustained various degrees of injury.

While condoling with the Joint Command and the family of the deceased NSCDC official, Otti in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Ferdinand Ekeoma, assured that his administration will ensure that the injured personnel receive quality medical attention to ensure they recuperate quickly.

He noted that the joint security taskforce has done a wonderful job in securing the state against criminals and assured that his administration will continue to offer the necessary support to sustain the tempo. (Vanguard)

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