A heartbreaking tragedy unfolded in the Ugep community, situated within the Yakurr Local Government Area of Cross River State.
Last weekend, a devastating auto crash occurred along the Bekwara-Abochiche road, resulting in the loss of six precious lives. Among the victims were Mr. Edet Eteng, his wife, Ikow, and their four children.
Reports reveal that the four children were laid to rest on Tuesday, September 19, 2023, in Ugep, while the remains of the husband and wife have been entrusted to the care of a local hospital mortuary in Ogoja LGA.
Tragically, Mr. Eteng and his family had journeyed from their residence in Abuja to their ancestral village of Ugep, all in the spirit of celebrating the Leboku festival.
The victims were on their way to Abuja when they met their untimely death after their car was said to have collided with an oncoming vehicle.
The accident, according to a witness, occurred after the vehicle carrying the family derailed from its lane and collided face-to-face with the oncoming vehicle.
Other family members have been thrown into shock as late Eteng, just lost his aged mother a few days after celebrating her birthday.
The Feral Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Sector Commander in Cross River, SC Istifanus Ibrahim, who confirmed the incident said the tragedy involving two vehicles also left two other occupants injured.
He said the incident happened around the Otokpuru axis in Bekwarra Local Government Area of the state, adding that the victims were taken to Abuochichie Cottage Hospital.
“The information we gathered from security agents and a good Samaritan who were involved in the rescue operation because our post is a bit far from the scene of the accident, was that the probable cause of the fatal accident was over speeding,” he said.
“The accident claimed the lives of 6 persons, including one adult male (father) identified as Edet Eteng, one adult female (mother), and four children (three females and one male) all from one family,”
Road users, especially drivers, must as a matter of responsibility minimize speed during this rainy season because a lot can happen that may be beyond their control,” he added.
