The Ebonyi Police Command on Saturday confirmed the arrest of a driver whose vehicle allegedly hit and killed a five-year-old girl, Miss Favour Nwibo, on the Abakaliki-Ogoja federal highway.
ASP Loveth Odah, the command’s spokesman told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the driver, Mr Happy Ikechukwu from Mbaise, Imo, allegedly hit the deceased at the popular Nwezenyi junction.
Odah noted that the deceased’s body had been deposited at the Iboko General Mortuary, in Izzi Local Government Area (LGA) of the state.
“I appeal to parents to give proper attention to their children as a girl of such age, should not be allowed to cross the road alone.
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“I also urge motorists to obey traffic rules and regulations and be generally safety conscious on the road, to avoid incidences such as this one that claimed the girl’s life,” she said.
An eye witness, who spoke with NAN on condition of anonymity, revealed that the incident incurred the wrath of residents of the area, who tried to attack the driver.
“The driver, however, escaped from the scene to report to Police Station at Iboko.
“The accident involved Ikechukwu’s Toyota Sienna car with registration number: ENU 535XD, which was travelling from Onitsha, Anambra to Ikom in Cross River.
“The driver of the car which had six passengers on board, apparently lost control of the vehicle and hit the little girl while she was trying to cross the highway,” he said.
He noted that the deceased, who hailed from Ndioputa-Nchoko, Igbeagu, in Izzi LGA, sustained serious injuries and was rushed to the general hospital, Iboko, where she was confirmed dead.
