A tragic road accident on Monday along the Okaka–Mbiama Road in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, claimed the life of a commercial tricycle (keke) operator.
The incident, which occurred between the Ekeki and Okaka axis of the road, caused panic among motorists and residents, with sympathisers gathering at the scene shortly after the accident.
According to eyewitnesses, the tricycle rider was conveying a passenger on the front seat of the vehicle, an act prohibited under traffic regulations. The witnesses alleged that officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) stopped the rider for the traffic violation, leading to an altercation between the driver and one of the officers.
The eyewitnesses further claimed that during the confrontation, an articulated truck struck and fatally crushed the tricycle rider. The circumstances surrounding how the collision occurred have not been independently verified.
A video of the incident, which has gone viral on social media, shows FRSC officials at the scene, while some bystanders were seen accusing the officers of contributing to the events that led to the fatal accident.
As of the time of filing this report, the Federal Road Safety Corps had not issued an official statement on the incident. Efforts to obtain the reaction of the Bayelsa State Police Command were unsuccessful, as the Police Public Relations Officer could not be reached.
The exact circumstances surrounding the accident remain under investigation. The Niger Delta Herald will provide further updates as more details emerge.
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