August 4, 2013 by Jude Owuamanam
About 14 youths were crushed to death and nine others seriously injured on Saturday, when a vehicle rammed into them while they were jogging along Tundun Maza Road in Barakin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State.
They were said to be members of the Boys’ and Girls’ Brigades on a regular keep fit exercise. They also served as security at the Church of Christ in Nations, the Assembly of God Church, and the Baptist Church, all in the area.
The teenagers, numbering about 40 and all below 16, were out around 6am for the routine exercise.
At Tundun Maza, the truck skidded off the road and rammed into them, killing 14 of them on the spot.
The vehicle was said to be conveying maize from Bokkos to Bukuru Market in Jos-South Local Government.
SUNDAY PUNCH gathered that immediately the incident happened, both the driver and the owner of the maize jumped out of the vehicle and ran away to avoid being lynched by an irate mob that began to gather.
The crowd could not hold their tears, as mangled bodies of the youth were retrieved and conveyed to a nearby health centre.
Those injured were taken to the Plateau State Specialist Hospital for treatments.
The incident led to a gridlock along the highway for about two hours.
The three affected churches were said to have immediately suspended all their weekend programmes and meetings to mourn the youth.
The Police Public Relation Officer, Plateau State Command, DSP Felicia Anselm, confirmed the incident
She said the police had commenced investigation into the accident.
Anselm said, “We have began investigation into the incident and we are also making to track down the driver of the vehicle who is very crucial in the investigation activities.”
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