Student and Okada Rider Killed in Rivers Accident

A secondary school student taking the West African Senior School Certificate Examination and a commercial motorcycle rider have died in a sad road accident along the Choba area of the East-West Road in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State.

The accident happened on Wednesday evening when a truck reportedly crashed into a motorcycle carrying the student home after her exam.

The student, known only as Juliet, had just finished her exam at a secondary school in Emuoha Local Government Area before she got on the motorcycle, called Okada, to go home.

An eyewitness, who did not want to be named, said the truck lost control and hit the motorcycle, killing both the rider and the student.

"While the Okada with the candidate was riding, the truck, which was speeding, lost control and crushed them from the other side of the road.

"He may have lost control due to the heavy rain on Wednesday evening," the eyewitness said.

The accident attracted many passers-by and sympathizers. Many were shocked by what they saw.

On Thursday, Grace Iringe-Koko Agabe, the spokesperson for the Rivers State Police Command, confirmed the incident. She said the bodies of the deceased were taken to the morgue at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital.

Agabe, who is an Assistant Superintendent of Police, said the truck driver had been arrested and the vehicle was taken to the Vehicle Inspection Office for checks.

"Yes, I can confirm the incident. Two persons died. The driver has been arrested and the truck was handed over to the Vehicle Inspection Office for proper inspection.

"The two corpses have been deposited at the morgue of the UPTH, and investigation is ongoing," she said.