An unfortunate car accident which occured around 10:47 pm on Friday last week has claimed the lives of three persons who have been identified as the children of the former provost of the American University of Nigeria (AUN), Prof Yusuf Attahir Baba.
According to reports, 4 persons were in a Toyota Camry car with Registration Number GWA 626 BS but was involved in a crash with an unmarked fire service truck belonging to the Federal Fire Service at Al-Noor junction, Wuse II in Abuja, Friday night.
The Deputy Director Fire, National Information Unit of the Federal Fire Service, Abdul Alhaji Ashafa, who confirmed the accident, said the car in which the deceased and one other person was driving, rammed into the fire truck, which was going to re-fill water to put out a fire incident in the district.
However, a witness in a viral video said the four people were inside the car when the over -speeding fire service truck, which was rushing to attend to an emergency, crashed into the car at the junction.
She said three of the four occupants of the car died while one other sustained injury.
She also stated that the victims were trapped in the car as they could only rescue three immediately. The fourth person was trapped for hours with no security detail rushing to the scene.
She said, “Unfortunately, one of the occupants inside the car was trapped for hours, and no emergency tools, while the police showed up at the scene late.”
According to witnesses, passersby tried to help while others were busy recording video of the victims.
They were later evacuated to an undisclosed hospital, sadly three of them passed on while one person is currently receiving treatment at the hospital.
According to witness testimony on social media, a lady said, “I can’t imagine when one of the boys inside the car that was trapped in between the metal is dying, but some people first instinct was to bring out their phones and started recording video. But I want to thank the good Samaritans who offered to help to rescue them to the hospital.”
She called on the management of the Fire Service to own up to the accident, investigate and bring the driver involved to face the wrath of the law.
Reports reveal that the remains of the victims were later evacuated from the hospital by the family upon receiving the information, and they were buried on Saturday at the Muslim Cemetery in Abuja.
Fire Service orders probe
The Deputy Director Fire, National Information Unit of the Federal Fire Service, Abdul Alhaji Ashafa, confirmed that a fire truck from the Federal Secretariat was involved in the accident.
He said the truck was going to refill water to respond to an emergency when the car the victims were riding rammed into the truck at a junction in Wuse district.
He said four people were inside the car but three died as a result of the accident.
He said the Federal Comptroller of Fire and the FCT Sector Commander had visited the bereaved family.
He said investigation into the incident was ongoing.
Meanwhile,in a statement issued Sunday in Abuja and signed by the Controller of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Metropolitan Fire Command, Ganiyu Momodu, the service conveyed its heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased and expressed profound sorrow over the incident.
The service acknowledged the immense pain and loss experienced by the families, emphasising that the victims’ promising future was tragically cut short. It also extended prayers for the swift recovery of the survivor, who is currently receiving medical treatment in an undisclosed hospital.
“As a service, we are sorry over the unfortunate incident that claimed the lives of three teenagers. We know that it is a difficult time for their family to cope, considering the age range of the children involved in this fatal accident.
“The Federal Fire Service is aware that losing one’s child is a deeply painful experience that marks the radical change of the family’s life and involves a wide range of sad emotions,”said Momodu.
This incident has not only exposed the shortcomings of first responders in emergency situations, but has pointed fingers at the humanity of man. The Federal Fire Service and all those involved in first response in emergency situations might need reorientation.
