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The Nigerian Army has denied responsibility for the accident that occurred on the Enugu-Onitsha Highway on Monday, claiming that its checkpoint had been dismantled prior to the incident. According to a statement issued by the Army Public Relations Officer, Major General Olusegun Ogunsakin, the checkpoint had been removed on Saturday. “The checkpoint in question was dismantled on Saturday and has not been operational since then,” Ogunsakin said. “The accident therefore could not have been caused by any personnel or activities associated with the army checkpoint.” The army spokesman said the accident was caused by overspeeding and reckless driving, and urged the public to avoid making unsubstantiated allegations against the military. The accident, which claimed the lives of nine persons, including two students of Enugu State University of Technology (ESUT), occurred at the 9th Mile Corner on the Enugu-Onitsha Highway. Eyewitnesses had claimed that the accident was caused by a military checkpoint on the road, which forced the driver of the bus carrying the students to swerve to avoid hitting the checkpoint, leading to the bus crashing into a ditch. However, the army has dismissed these claims, saying that the checkpoint had been dismantled and that there was no military personnel or activity in the area at the time of the accident. The army has called for a thorough investigation into the accident to determine the true cause and ensure that justice is served.Nigerian Army Denies Responsibility for Enugu-Onitsha Expressway Accident

Nigerian Army Denies Responsibility for Enugu-Onitsha Expressway Accident

The Nigerian Army has refuted claims that a checkpoint operated by its personnel caused the tragic accident on the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway on Wednesday, June 12. The military headquarters clarified its position in a statement released on Thursday. The initial accident reports implicated the Ugwu Onyeama checkpoint as contributing to the incident that resulted in four fatalities. However, the Army confirmed that it has a Roadside Location/Base in the area to combat kidnapping, but not a checkpoint. The Army emphasized that the accident occurred approximately 300 meters ahead of the base due to brake failure of a descending truck. The vehicle collided with oncoming traffic, not those behind it at the Roadside Location/Base. The military further refuted claims that soldiers stopped vehicles at the time of the accident. Instead, they served as first responders at the scene. Additionally, the Army clarified that only two individuals perished at the accident site, contradicting earlier reports of 25 deaths. The statement condemned accusations against the Army for causing the accident, calling such claims disheartening and aimed at tarnishing the efforts of its troops. The military reiterated its commitment to protecting lives and property, describing itself as “the People’s Army.” Meanwhile, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) reported that 10 individuals sustained injuries in the accident, while 25 others were rescued. The FRSC is conducting an investigation and has ordered legal action against the responsible driver. Initial reports attributed speeding as the primary cause of the crash, which involved seven vehicles.The Army on Sunday denied that a checkpoint mounted by its personnel on Enugu-Onitsha highway caused the road accident that occurred on Saturday. The accident, which involved a tanker and two other vehicles, claimed the lives of no fewer than 15 persons and left many others injured. The Deputy Director, Public Relations, 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, Col. Sagir Musa, in a statement on Sunday, said that no military checkpoint was within the vicinity of the accident scene. Musa said: “The attention of the 82 Division of the Nigerian Army has been drawn to an online publication credited to one Mr Patrick Agbaeze, a self-acclaimed Traffic Controller of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, IPMAN. “The said publication alleged that a military checkpoint along Enugu-Onitsha expressway caused the fatal tanker explosion accident that occurred on May 16, 2020, by the Omagba Phase 2 axis of the road. “The 82 Division wishes to state categorically that the allegation is not only unfounded but a calculated attempt to tarnish the image of the Nigerian Army. “The division wishes to state unequivocally that there was no military checkpoint within the vicinity of the accident scene as at the time of the incident. “We urge members of the public to disregard such unfounded allegations and be wary of individuals whose sole aim is to cause disaffection among the civil populace.” Musa, however, said that the Division had already commenced an investigation into the allegation to ascertain its source and motive.