Rivers State Commissioner of Police, CP Olugbenga Adepoju and Eleme Council Chairman, Hon. Brian Gokpa, at the scene of incident.
•Property Owners Demand Revocation Of RCC’s Contract
By Eric Moore
A Hilux van carrying company workers, including a foreigner, plunged into the Okulu River on Monday night, while escaping from suspected kidnappers along the Eleme axis of the East-West Road in Rivers State.
Pentoks News gathered that the driver lost control of the vehicle after gunmen attacked the convoy, causing it to skid off the bridge and plunged into the river.
Eyewitnesses on Tuesday, said the vehicle and its occupants were still trapped, as rescue team continued search.
Chairman of Eleme Local Government Area, Brian Gokpa, has mobilised a rescue team to the scene on Tuesday, with the support of operatives from the Nigerian Navy and other rescue agencies to retrieve the vehicle and its occupants.
Gokpa reiterated his commitment to safeguarding lives and property in the area, vowing to empower more personnel to assist in the ongoing rescue efforts and ensure the perpetrators of the attack are brought to justice.
Professional divers and marine police have also been deployed to the rescue mission, while frantic efforts are being made to recover the victims and vehicle from the river.
Similarly, the State Commissioner of Police, CP Olugbenga Adepoju, with his team have visited the scene.
He commended the council chairman for swift response and for mobilising security forces and rescue teams to address the incident.
Meanwhile, property owners along the Eleme section of East West road has expressed concerns about the incident.
In their reaction, members of the group said the recent incident was another evidence of unprofessional approach and lack of safety measures of the company handling the reconstruction of the East West road
They condoled with the families of the victims and criticized Reynolds Construction Company’s (RCC’s) handling of the construction contract.
They pointed out the unprotected nature of the Aleto bridge, which could have been prevented by a professional construction company.
Chairman, Property Owners on the Eleme East West Road, Joseph Obele, in a statement, said thr Monday accident was one of their reasons for calling for the revocation of RCC’s contract.
Obele said: “The accident led to a vehicle plunging off the dilapidated bridge, and rescue operations are underway. Emergency response teams, including the Rivers State Emergency Management Agency, National Emergency Management Agency, Federal Road Safety Corps, and local police, are working together to conduct rescue operations.
“Furthermore, road users have consistently complained about the hazardous condition of the Aleto bridge, which has been left unprotected for an extended period. Despite these warnings, RCC failed to take necessary measures to address the risks, resulting in this tragic accident.
The property owners, however, thanked the council chairman for responding promptly to the incident, emphasizing the need for immediate safety measures.
They also commended the state Commissioner of Police, Adepoju, for coming to the scene.
“The property owners join the public in calling for the Honourable Minister of Works to revoke RCC’s contract and re-award it to a reputable construction company that prioritizes speed and safety.”