Driver Dies As Car Falls Off At Ogbogbo-Ishieke River Bridge

By Nwogha Ndubuisi, Abakaliki

A suspected Nigerian Army officer identified as Mr Friday Nwokpor and a driver of a Sienna car with a number plate EKY10B, Lagos line, has been reported fell off and died at Ogbogbo Ekebeligwe Ishieke river bridge along Nwiboko Obodo Road. It was gathered that the deceased man was in his car on that fateful Saturday night driving from Nwori Isophumini Mbeke Ishieke in Ebonyi LGA to Ezza North LGA of the State when the unfortunate incident occured.

According to our source, late Friday when reached the Ogbogbo River, which has a fatal wooden bridge could not control his vehicular speed and fell off the bridge and his car turned upside down, while inside it with his younger brother, Chinedu Nwokpor Ogbulemini who sustained severe injuries during the incident. Narrating, Mr Uche Okeagu, a commercial motorcyclist,hinted that the driver and his younger brother were rushed to the hospital immediately but unfortunately, the former later died, whereas, the latter is still receiving treatment in the hospital. He also disclosed that late Friday's corpse has been deposited in the mortuary at Alex Ekwueme Federal Teaching Hospital (AEFETHA 1). Speaking, the village head of Ekebeligwe Mbeke Ishieke in Ebonyi LGA, Chief Lazarus Nwoyibe lamented over the terrible condition of the Ogbogbo bridge where the motor accident took place. He explained that the bridge links Mbeke Development Centre and its Ebonyi counterpart, saying many lives have been lost at the spot due to its fatal condition, especially during the rainy season. The community leader said his Ekebeligwe Ishieke village people spent over a million Naira yearly to rebuild the bridge to stave off its breakdown or being carried out by the flood. Nwoyibe, however, called for government intervention, noting that the said Ogbogbo bridge is situated along Nwiboko Obobo road which connects Ebonyi and Benue State, but its horrible condition had affected movements and businesses in the area negatively. Lending his voice, the President of the Federated Ekebeligwe Ishieke Association (FEYA) in Ebonyi LGA, Comrade Emmanuel Nwebonyi Oge, described the Nwiboko Obodo road as a Federal road, noting that it connects to Benue State from Ishieke axis. He confirmed that many lives have been lost at the bridge because every measure put in place to reconstruct the bridge to a modern standard was not successful. He noted that the community people have been supportive of the government in power, especially during the elections, and called for immediate action by the relevant authorities on reconstructing the bridge and asphalting the remained part of the Nwiboko Obodo road to avoid further records of such fatal casualties. Others who spoke includes, FEYA Vice President, Samuel Nwoba, the leader of Ekebeligwe Ishieke Vigilante Security, Clement Nwanshi, among others disclosed that the deceased driver was reportedly in high speed in the night hours of last Saturday with no knowledge of the deplorable nature of the bridge, the spot where he had the accident. They also commended the outgoing Governor of Ebonyi State, Chief David Umahi who had asphalted the Ndiebor Ishieke axis of the said Nwiboko Obodo road and appealed to the incoming government led by Governor-Elect,Chief Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru to intensify efforts in ensuring he complete the Mbeke Ishieke axis of the road, and as well, construct the bridge in the modern class to avoid further occurrence of such ugly incidences in the area.