Harvest of deaths

The point is Essien road by Sanni Ogun by Chubb road junction in Ikot Ekpene Local Government Area were a distributing company known as Esther and sons is located. The road has so far claimed not less than fifty five lives in the past one month. On the 29th of September, 2013, the road claimed two lives in less than twenty minutes which sent spines and tension down the spines of residents of the area.

Our correspondents gathered that the place has become a death trap because of the wayward manner vehicles and trucks belonging to the company Esther and Sons are parked. These vehicles are parked in such a way that a greater percentage of the road is blocked and does not give way to easy flow of traffic and at the same time, does not also allow the oncoming vehicles to see the other which has always lead to a direct and headlong collision along the junction. Not less than fifty five lives have so far been lost to road accident in the area and the police and Federal Road Safety corps appears helpless on the situation, a competent source said.

One of the persons who lost a loved one recently at that point informed our reporter that Esther and sons have bribed the police, the Road Safety officers and even the taskforce that was constituted by the council to checkmate illegal parking have all been bribed and they are not willing to address the death trap set by the company.

Road users maintained to THE INK at the venue of the incidence last Sunday that it is sad that the Police and Road Safety have conspired to turn Ikot Ekpene into a death trap, they are of the opinion that the company have become more powerful than the government and however promised a revolution if the trend continues longer than necessary.

One of the leaders of the community informed that the community has been restraining the youths from taking laws into their hands otherwise the place Esther and sons would have since gone down in flames. He however appealed to the police and road safety commission to desist from receiving bribe from Esther and Sons because when the youths revolt, they will not survive. He lamented the number of people that have met their untimely deaths along that road and sounded a note of warning to the Police, FRSC and the company that the people of the area will no longer tolerate untimely deaths of their kinsmen caused as a result of accidents on the junction.

In a chat with a cousin of one of the deceased Ndifreke, the cousin stated that the late Ndifreke was the first son of the parent and that the victim met his untimely death at the Essien Road, Chubb road, Sanni Ogun road junction. He maintained that the victim met his untimely death on Sunday while they were in church. He said the matter was reported at the appropriate quarters and that they have been assured of prompt action. He however expressed sadness that the late Ndifreke had to lose his life in such a ghastly motor accident.

With the recent renewal of killings in the area, there is apprehension in Ikot Ekpene and tempers may let loose if something urgently is not done, it was observed.