16 recorded dead in PDP rally accident

The road accident that happened immediately after the Party finished its campaign in the Pankshin local government area has received an update from the Atiku-Okowa, Mutfwang-Piyo Campaign Council in Plateau State.

The Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, reports 16 fatalities whereas the council initially reported seven deaths before upgrading the number to 13.

The PDP promptly put a halt to all memorial services for the victims.

According to a statement released on Sunday by Yiljap Abraham, Director of Media and Publicity for Atiku-Mutfwang-Piyo Okowa's Campaign Council in Plateau State, "A total of 13 individuals are now confirmed dead following Saturday's truck accident along Pushit-Panyam route.

"The latest report by the medical team of the PDP Campaign Council shows that as of Sunday morning, all cases are stable and responding to treatment – including the two cases that were critical on Saturday.

“The Jos University Teaching Hospital, JUTH is currently managing 24 cases; Nissi Domino’s hospital in Mangu 20 cases; Infinity Hospital, Mangu eight cases; Cottage Hospital Mangu four cases; Panyam Clinic four cases. The cases at Allah Na Kowa in Mangu have all been transferred to JUTH.

“In all, there are 64 patients presently receiving treatment. Families have started claiming and performing the burial rites of their loved ones. The Gubernatorial Candidate of the PDP, Barr Caleb Mutfwang has asked his team to provide every assistance possible to the grieving families.”

In this time of sorrow, teams of party and campaign council representatives from the secretariats, the zones, and local governments have been dispatched.

However, the FRSC highlighted in a statement by RC Peter Longsan, Route Commander and Public Enlightenment Officer, "A fatal road traffic accident happened on January 14, 2023, along Pankshin-Jos Road at about 5:00 pm. A truck carrying participants from a Peoples Democratic Party political campaign event in Plateau Central Zone was involved in a single-vehicle accident (PDP).

“The number of people involved was 99, the number of people killed in the crash was 16 adult males, while 83 people sustained various degrees of injury. The injured victims were taken to hospitals in Panyam and Mangu town, both in Mangu LGA. FRSC Operatives of Pankshin Unit Command, passersby, volunteers, and other spirited individuals evacuated the injured victims for medical attention, while the corpses of the deceased were deposited at Mangu General Hospital, Panyam General Hospital, and Nissi Private Hospital all in Mangu LGA.