From Linus Oota, Lafia
A Hilux van belonging to the Nasarawa State Police Command yesterday crushed to death one prospective JAMB candidate and a commercial motorcycle rider in front of a bank in Lafia, the state capital. Three others were injured in the crash.
An eyewitness told newsmen that the incident occurred at about 3pm on Tuesday when the driver of the police van, at high speed, lost control and knocked a commercial motorcycle about to convey the prospective JAMB candidate to her destination.
He said: “The vehicle crushed the okada rider and the lady before knocking down three other people standing by the roadside. The okada rider died on the spot, while the JAMB candidate later died in Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital, where she was rushed for treatment.”
One of the survivors, James Chima, who spoke to newsmen on his sickbed, said: “I was standing by the roadside when, suddenly, a police van ran into me.”
Another victim told newsmen that the van was on high speed when it ran into the victims. According to him, “I was with my sister, who had just completed her JAMB registration process in the bank, and we were discussing, when the police vehicle knocked her and other prospective JAMB candidates down.”
Another victim, Miss Aisha Ikpanago, who is also on admission in hospital, could not talk to journalists, as she was in pain when our reporter visited.
Efforts to reach the Police Public Relations Officer, Kennedy John, proved abortive, as his telephone was switched off.