Enugu State Ministry of Transport has debunked the allegation in a viral video that somebody died in the road accident involving a tricycle ( Keke) driver and a personnel of the Vehicle Inspection Officer (VIO) aaround Okpara Square, Enugu,, describing the information as false and misleading
Chief Vehicle Inspection Officer , Engr. Val Chime, disclosed that to newsmen on Tuesday in Enugu. He said the “Keke driver is alive” and has traveled to Jos, Plateau state..
Pix- Engr. Chime
Contrary to the information disseminated in the video which trended on social media few days ago, Chime said the driver of the tricycle did not die and the VIO personnel was not chasing the tricycle driver as the man who posted the video had claimed.
He said ,” nobody was chasing people We don’t chase people”.
Pix- Kingsley Asochukwu
The eye witness and originator of the viral video, Kingsley Asochukwu narrated what happened and how he helped in. carrying the victims from the road. . He apologized for the misinformation that the driver died, explaining that when he saw the man ,( the driver) lying on the ground motionless and with leaves placed on his body, , he thought he was dead.. He did not know he fainted and regained consciousness on the way to the hospital . He apologized to the state government and the general public for misleading them.. .
His words, ” I am sorry to the state government for the misinformation. If you were here, you will think the way I thought. When the incident happened , people brought the man out and placed leaves on his body, so I thought he was dead. Am really sorry to everybody, to the state government.,’ he said.
On his part, Ibrahim Mohammade,
the tricycle high purchase manager and brother to the Keke driver, Garba Awwal ,,confirmed that Awwal sustained Chest injury and was unconscious. He however, said, Awwal regained consciousness on the way to the hospital.
Pix: Okechi Ngozi
The VIO personnel , Okechi Ngozi Loveth ,who was in the tricycle with the Keke driver, said the driver defaulted and she was asked to take him to VIO office, but instead of the driver going to VIO office , he sped- off to a different direction, where he lost control and they had an accident .
Okechi ,who sustained injuries and was taken to the hospital, confirmed that nobody died.
Pix: Nnamoko
Speaking also, Permanent secretary, Ministry of Transport, Ikechukwu Nnamoko, said investigations were on and any operative found wanting will be punished. . He added that the commissioner for transport ,Dr. Obi Ozor had directed suspension of VIO operations until investigations were concluded.
He advised motorists to always renew their vehicle papers, ensure roadworthiness and obey traffic rules, noting that operatives will always perform their duties. their duties.
He said the ministry of transport paid the hospital bill of officer, Okechi Ngozi. Nnamoko also advised members of the public to stop posting unconfirmed information on social media, adding that people should be helping accident victims not making videos and posting unconfirmed reports on social media ,just to trend.
Author: Maureen Ikpeama
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