Many feared dead as truck conveying PDP supporters crashes in Plateau 

Several others sustained injuries in the crash and are being treated in hospitals around the area.

Many people were feared dead as a truck conveying supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), crashed in Panyam area of Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State on Saturday night.

Several others sustained injuries in the crash and are being treated in hospitals around the area, the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) has said.

Peter Longsan, a spokesperson of the FRSC in Plateau, said in a statement on Saturday that the casualty figure is yet to be ascertained as many people had been taken to various hospitals by both officials of the FRSC and volunteers

“Our officers just finished taking the victims to the hospital, as to the details, we cannot ascertain as some of the victims were evacuated by other volunteers. The unit commander there said the comprehensive report which will comprise of the number of people involved, number of vehicles involved, the casualty rate, etc will be made available later, ” he said.

PREMIUM TIMES learned that the incident occurred when the party supporters were returning from a zonal PDP campaign flag-off in Pankshin Local Government Area of the State, on Saturday, and suddenly the truck they were travelling in crashed.

Meanwhile, the governorship candidate of the PDP in the state, Caleb Mutfwang, said he was saddened by the event.

“On a sad note, a truck conveying some supporters of the People’s Democratic Party, (PDP), from the gubernatorial campaigns flag-off and zonal rally of the Central Zone, Plateau State, in Pankshin, had an accident on Saturday evening after the rally, around Jwak Village, just before Panyam Bridge, Mangu Local Government Area (LGA).

“The supporters who are mostly young people, sustained injuries of varying proportions, while some regrettably lost their lives.

“The governorship candidate, Barr. Caleb Mutfwang (BCM), is deeply saddened by the unfortunate event, and is currently involved in evaluating those severely injured from different hospitals in Mangu, to Jos, where they would hopefully receive better attention and care.

“While we appreciate all first responders who are currently assisting with the evacuation effort, our thoughts and prayers are with all the families affected by the sad event,” a statement by the candidate read.
Source – Premium Times

 

 

Polls: DHQ to deploy troops in Sokoto, Imo, Katsina, others 

With less than 40 days to the general elections, voters in Sokoto, Imo, Katsina, Zamfara, Anambra and some other states have expressed apprehension over the spate of insecurity in their communities, saying they may not participate in the electoral exercise unless the situation improves.

They insisted that their communities were not safe enough for elections to take place and urged the Federal Government to devise urgent strategies to address the situation.

However, the Defence Headquarters told Sunday PUNCH that more troops would be deployed in the affected states and communities, assuring that they would be safe enough for the elections to hold.

A member of the Sokoto State House of Assembly representing the Sabon-Birni Local Government, one of the local government areas facing security challenges, Aminu Boza, said until the security situation improved in the area, elections might not take place.

The lawmaker, who spoke to one of our correspondents on the telephone, said more than 40 villages in the council were affected by insecurity.

He said only the headquarters of the Sabon Birni, Isa and Goronyo local government areas were safe for elections.

He stated, “I can tell you that most of the people in the villages in those three local governments have run away from their homes; who is going to participate in the elections?

“In fact, in all the eight local government areas comprising the Eastern Senatorial District, I doubt if there is going to be any election unless the situation improves from what we have today.”

The local governments are Isa, Sabon Birni, Goronyo, Rabbah, Gwadabawa, Ilela, Gada and Wurno.

Boza, however, commended the state Commissioner of Police, Muhammed Gumel, for dispatching security personnel to the local governments to restore law and order.

Also speaking, Mallam Haruna Abbah, a resident of Isa LGA, corroborated the lawmaker, saying only the local government headquarters and a few villages were safe for elections in the state.

Abbah called on security agencies and the Independent National Electoral Commission to ensure that peace returned to the local government before the polls.

But the Head of Voters Education, INEC, in Sokoto State, Muhammad Takai, gave an assurance that security agencies would ensure the safety of all before, during and after the polls.

He said the commission had held a series of meetings with the heads of security agencies in the state with the assurance that things would improve before the elections.

The police spokesman in the state, Sanusi Abubakar, could not be reached for comments, but a senior police officer said everything was being done to restore peace in the affected areas.

Anambra

In Anambra State, the residents said the insecurity ravaging parts of the state must be curbed before the February 25 presidential election.

In recent times, arsonists have burnt down a number of… READ MORE