Akwa Ibom Governor, Pastor Umo Eno has expressed “deep sadness of the state Government over the loss of five members in a road crash while they were returning from a church conference in Lagos.

In a message of condolence to the family on Saturday, the governor said, it was more painful because those who lost their lives were fromclose-knit families.

“My heart goes out to all those directly affected by this unfortunate incident. We stand ready to support the Church at this hour of grief and bereavement,’’ Umo Eno said in a statement endorsed by Ekerette Udoh, his press secretary.

It was reported that tragedy had hit a family in Eket town, Eket Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State as it lost five members in a road crash while they were returning from a church conference in Lagos.

The accident is said to have occurred along Ovie River road in Edo State along the notorious Benin-Asaba Expressway claiming five lives from the same family who were returning from a conference organised by the Salvation Army Church in Lagos

Those who lost their lives included two brothers, the wife of one of them, a little girl who travelled with her parents and an unborn child as the deceased lady was pregnant as at the time of her death.

According to the head of the bereaved family, Samingo Etukakpan, who lost all five family members, the family has been thrown into a “great moment of grief.

“It is a moment of grief for me and my family. This is indeed a bitter pill to swallow, losing five members of my family and my daughter-in-law who was equally pregnant but I pray God to console me and members of my family as it is too hard for us.” he lamented.

According to the Salvation Army Nigeria territory commissioner, Daniel Kasuso 12 officers, the driver and a baby were killed in the crash while others sustained various degrees of injuries.

“The Salvation Army Nigeria deeply regrets to announce that a group of officers who were returning from the just concluded officers’ councils, were involved in a fatal accident,’’ he said in a statement.

Recent data from the Federal Road Safety Commission shows that; Road traffic crashes claim over 40,000 lives annually in Nigeria, while road violations arising from speed, road signs or vehicle lights are the leading causes of road traffic accidents in the country. (Courtesy, excluding headline, Nigerian Tribune)