The 2019 Press Week of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Akwa Ibom State Council, has become tearful, as four staff of the state-owned Pioneer Newspaper lost their lives in an auto crash yesterday evening.

Apart from the four who have so far been reported dead, not less than 10 seriously injured staff of the corporation are currently receiving treatments at various hospitals across the state. Some of these are yet to regain consciousness.

The Pioneer staff, according to sources, were returning from a wedding ceremony of one of their colleagues when the incident occurred at Ekpene Ikim along Airport Road, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

One of the survivors of the crash, who is receiving treatment at a General Hospital, Ituk Mbang, blamed the driver for the incident.

He claimed the driver was on high speed and eventually lost control of the vehicle while trying to negotiate a bend, causing the bus to somersault several times.

Corpses of those confirmed dead have been deposited in a morgue. While other survivors including the driver are receiving treatment at the emergency care unit of the Ituk Mbang hospital

In an official statement by the Pioneer Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, the chapel deeply consoles with the Akwa Ibom Newspaper Corporation, AKNC, over the involvement of some members of staff of the Corporation in a fatal motor accident along Airport Road, Uyo on Wednesday, December 11, 2019.

“The Chapel is most concerned that the accident has led to the untimely death of four persons with several others sustaining various degrees of injuries.

“We, at this critical point sympathise with the families of the deceased and urge them to take solace in God’s infinite grace to bear the irreplaceable loss. We are grateful to the Almighty God for sparing the lives of several others, who have survived the ugly incident, though at various levels of injuries. The Chapel prays the Almighty God to grant the injured quick recovery without any deformity.” The statement read

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Akwa Ibom State Chapter has announced the suspension of a football match which was fixed today as part of activities marking it press week celebration. (Independent)

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