The death toll has risen in Sunday’s bus accident involving residents of Afara Community in Etche local government area of Rivers.
Standard Observers reported that at least nine persons were confirmed dead while scores others were injured while escorting a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Ambrose Igbokwe Nwuzi to marry a third wife.
They were heading to Imo State for a traditional marriage between Mr Nwuzi and a third wife when the vehicle they were travelling in collided with a speeding trailer.
Eyewitnesses said the incident occurred along Akpoku/Udufor Road.
According to the eyewitnesses, amongst the dead was also Mr Nwuzi’s younger brother, Ogunka and his wife.
It was, however, gathered on Monday that the death toll has risen to over twenty, with only one person still alive out of the twenty-five persons that boarded the coaster bus.
Mr Nwuzi, a former ally of the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, defected to the PDP from the All Progressives Congress, APC, in 2020 and was welcomed into the party by Governor Nyesom Wike.
The driver of the trailer was arrested by the locals and handed over to the police.
However, when contacted, Nnamdi Omoni, the public relations officer of the Rivers State Command said he has not been briefed on the incident.
