Irate youths, yesterday, went on rampage in Onitsha, Anambra State when a lorry crushed to death a pregnant woman and her two children at a police checkpoint along Onitsha-Owerri Road.
It was gathered that the mobile policemen who were conducting stop and search, stopped a car while an oncoming tipper lorry lost control and rammed into the parked car, killing a pregnant woman and her two children inside the vehicle.
The incident, a source said, angered the youths who mobilised and attacked the policemen. Failure of the youths to get at the policemen made them go on rampage during which they destroyed property where the security personnel ran for cover. The incident caused gridlock for hours along Onitsha-Owerri Road. An eyewitness, Uche Amobi said immediately the accident happened, the angry youths blamed the policemen for the accident.
“Immediately the accident occurred, the youths in the area attacked the policemen. The policemen who took to their heels, ran into Amazu motors premises. The youths pursued them into the premises. When they could not find the policemen, they got angry and went on rampage destroying property, including a shopping mall.” It took the intervention of other policemen led by Onitsha Area Commander, Mr. Abubakar Yahaya, an Assistant Commissioner (ACP) to calm the situation.
The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Nkeiruka Nwode who confirmed the incident said a lady and two children died in the accident and advised motorists to always have their vehicle papers and licenses intact and obey policemen at checkpoints. He warned lorry drivers to always drive with care and not under influence of alcohol or other hard drugs. Nwode said the corpses had been deposited at the morgue, he also condoled with the family.
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