Mrs. Paulina Linus and her cousin Juliana Ebih perished in the accident.
A crushingly dark cloud fell on Utonkon district in Benue State. It spreads its gripping wings to communities in Oke-Ira, Lagos State. An unfathomable and never-before-seen-or-heard tragedy has befallen them. A couple of days ago, 13 community members (six children and seven adults) had been killed in a ghastly road accident on an expressway in Delta State on the way to their community, Utonkon in Ado Local Government of Benue State. Their families are currently inconsolable.
It was a collision between a bus belonging to the Benue-headquartered CDO Transport Company and an oncoming trailer. Only four persons survived with many of the survivors still in critical conditions at the St Mary Hospital and General Hospital in Issele-Uku in Delta State.
The bus had been crushed beyond recognition. Surprisingly, the driver, a certain Mr. Chinedu Odah survived with only a few scratches to his shoulder.
Most of the dead were close relatives traveling from Lagos to their village in Benue for a burial ceremony. The Oke-Ira communities and their homeland have been thrown into deep mourning since the occurrence last Sunday, February 15.
Another victim, Mrs. Mary John
I had seen and spoken to some of the victims exactly a month to the gory day and it still feels like a dream, a very dreadful dream.
Three of them, Mrs. Mary John, a mother of six, Mrs. Rose Idenyi Ekma, age 32 and mother of three and Paulina Linus, aged 68 and mother of five, attended CEE-HOPE's 11th anniversary event at the Oke-Ira Primary School here in Lagos on January 15. We had utilised the anniversary event to hold a parents and guardians meeting for our child scholars from the Oke-Ira community. About 40 of them, men and women, were in attendance. Their children and wards, about 100 of them, were also in attendance. The school principal, Mr. Makinde Anthony Adekunle, school teachers as well as staff from the Lagos State Education Authority office were present and we all had talks with the parents and guardians. It was a day to remember. The parents and guardians were absolutely amicable and cooperating. None of us had the slightest hint of the calamity to come exactly a month later.
One of our keenest and dedicated scholars was also caught in the horrific crossfire of death. Miss Juliana Ebih was only 14 and had the whole world ahead of her. That world stopped abruptly on February 15 on a major road. She died alongside her guardian Mrs. Linus who was traveling with her to the village and whose sister-in-law's burial they were traveling for (she is seen here in a photo with Mrs. Linus). Mrs. Linus' husband who was also in the bus was in a coma for some days and was rumoured dead but later came out of the coma. Mrs Ekma on her part died with her four-year old baby, Rejoice.
The survivors include: Ela Okereke
MR. Linus, Ukoh John and the driver, Chinedu Odah. They are currently receiving treatment at the hospitals at Iselu-Uku.
Mrs. Rose Ekma also died with her four-year old daughter Rejoice.
The rest of the victims are: Alice Agbo, Mary Okereke, Rosemary Michael, Evelyn Michael, Paulina Linus, Juliana Ebih, Innocent Michael, Matthew Michael, Juliana Odachi, Sunday Ogoh, Monica Ogoh.
Both victims and survivors' homes are spread across Oke-Ira communities including Ifelodun Avenue, Ifelodun Valley, Baba Olomi, Baba Two, Calabar Church and Irawo-Ogo areas. Their homes have been besieged by gloomy condoling relatives and friends ever since.
This tragedy is crushing. This horror is haunting. Several families have had their lives altered forever -- lost mothers, lost fathers, lost siblings, lost cousins, lost neighbours--- things can never be the same any more. Words are simply not enough...
Three of the women attended CEE-HOPE's event exactly a month to their death
On behalf of the Board, Management and Staff of CEE-HOPE, we extend sincerest condolences to the families of the victims of this unthinkable tragedy. We pray for peaceful repose to their souls and divine comfort to their loved ones.
-- Betty Abah
For CEE-HOPE Nigeria
February 19, 2025
Lagos
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