TRAGEDY struck, Saturday night, as
at least eight persons including a Pastor’s wife, Pastor (Mrs) Hellen Samuel,
her three children, Saviour, Ensigne and Purity, were reportedly killed in an
auto crash in Katagbegi village of Niger State.The accident occured when the
bus owned by the Niger State Transport Authority they were travelling in ran
into an articulated truck at a bad spot along Bida-Minna road.The family of
Pastor Abraham Samuel of the PotterPorchChurch, Minna and the other passengers
in the bus were said to be travelling from Lagos to Minna when the crash
occured at about 8pm, Saturday night.
The bus, according to eyewitness,
was said to have caught fire shortly after the accident, thereby making rescue
efforts difficult.It was, however, gathered that only one passenger was rescued
alive with serious burns.
Special Adviser to the Niger State
Government on Emergency and Disaster Management, Mohammed Shaba, confirmed that
the eight bodies had been recovered from the scene of the accident, even though
the bus was believed to be carrying 18 passengers at the time of the accident.Shaba
said corpses of the deceased had been deposited at the Minna GeneralHospital.
The passengers were said to have
been burnt in the vehicle because the local people that rushed for the rescue
efforts lacked the capacity to curtail the fire.Our correspondent who went to
the church met the Pastor preaching during yesterday’s church service after
which he announced the demise of his wife and three children.Members of the
church screamed at the news but the Pastor remained calm with elders of the
church around him.According to Pastor Samuel who, however, maintained sober
mood “My wife and the kids are resting.”
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