A devastating accident claimed the lives of nine members of a family in the Okete community, Ohimini Local Government Area of Benue State, in the early hours of Thursday.
According to local sources, the tragic incident occurred at approximately 5 a.m. when a truck, reportedly suffering from brake failure, lost control and plowed into a residential building along the roadside. The victims were asleep at the time of the crash.
An eyewitness recounted the harrowing scene: “The incident happened early this morning when most people were still in bed. The loud noise from the crash woke up the neighbours.”
Confirming the incident, the spokesperson for the Benue State Police Command, Catherine Anene, stated, “The truck rammed into a residential building, killing nine members of the family. The unfortunate incident occurred in the early hours of Thursday.”
She further assured the public that a full investigation had commenced to uncover the circumstances leading to the crash, adding, “Further details will be provided in due course.”
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The tragedy has left the community in shock and mourning, as residents struggle to come to terms with the loss of an entire family. Authorities are expected to release updates on the investigation and measures to prevent such accidents in the future.