At
least 11 female supporters of the First Lady, Patience Jonathan, died in a road
accident on Saturday night, officials have said. The
victims were all in the same bus that was involved in the accident. They were
Bayelsa branch leaders of an organization, Women For Change, that is sponsored
by Mrs. Jonathan.
The
accident occurred at Ahoada axis of East-West road in Rivers State, PREMIUM
TIMES reports.
The
Bayelsa Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, Vincent
Jack, confirmed the development.
Mr.
Jack explained that nine persons were burnt to death, two died without burns,
while many others who sustained injuries were rushed to Madonna clinic in the
area.
According
to him, the accident occurred when the tyres of a Toyota Sienna burst and
rammed into the bus carrying the women. The bus, which had the inscription of
the organisation, subsequently went up in flames.
A
former councillor in Ogbia Local Government Area, Gbaregolo Eseimokumo, listed
some of the victims as Consider Amadi, a former women leader in Ogbia; Clara
Abila, a grassroots politician; Immaculate Amasimua, former Commissioner at the
Civil Service Commission in Bayelsa; and Elisabeth Oguru, wife of the Secretary
to the State Government.
Others
are Zimbra Goma, former Commissioner for Women Affairs; Ruby Benjamin, former
House of Assembly member representing Brass Constituency 1 in Bayelsa; amongst
others.
A
security official said all the women in the bus, but one, were killed. The
survivor is receiving medical attention.
The women were said to have paid a two-day
solidarity visit to the first lady in Okirika, Rivers State.
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