At least 11 female supporters of
the First Lady, Patience
Jonathan, died in a road
accident on Saturday night,
officials have said.
The victims were all in the same
bus that was involved in the
accident. They were Bayelsa
branch leaders of an
organisation, Women For
Change, that is sponsored by
Mrs. Jonathan.
The accident occurred at
Ahoada axis of East-West road in
Rivers State.
The Bayelsa Sector Commander
of the Federal Road Safety
Commission, FRSC, Vincent Jack,
confirmed the development to
PREMIUM TIMES on Sunday.
Mr. Jack explained that nine
persons were burnt to death,
two died without burns, while
many others who sustained
injuries were rushed to
Madonna clinic in the area.
According to him, the accident
occurred when the tyres of a
Toyota Sienna burst and
rammed into the bus carrying
the women. The bus, which had
the inscription of the
organisation, subsequently went
up in flames.
A former councillor in Ogbia
Local Government Area,
Gbaregolo Eseimokumo, listed
some of the victims as Consider
Amadi, a former women leader
in Ogbia; Clara Abila, a
grassroots politician; Immaculate
Amasimua, former
Commissioner at the Civil
Service Commission in Bayelsa;
and Elisabeth Oguru, wife of the
Secretary to the State
Government.
Others are Zimbra Goma, former
Commissioner for Women Affairs; Ruby
Benjamin, former House of Assembly member
representing Brass Constituency 1 in Bayelsa;
amongst others.
A security official said all the women in the
bus, but one, were killed. The survivor is
receiving medical attention.
The women were said to have paid a two-day
solidarity visit to the first lady in Okirika,
Rivers State.
No comments: