Truck Kills Family Of Four, Six Others In Benue Tragic Accident

A tragic accident in Okete village, Okpikwu Oglewu, within the Ohimini Local Government Area of Benue State, has resulted in the deaths of ten individuals.

Naija News learnt that the tragic incident took place on Wednesday when a mining truck collided with a bus carrying six passengers before crashing into a nearby residential structure, leading to the deaths of a family of four.

According Channels Television, a Community leader, Ekah Bernard, reported that, following the assessment, ten fatalities have been confirmed, while several others are currently receiving medical care at St. Daniel Hospital in Otukpo.

The local community, situated along the Otukpo-Loko Oweto Abuja Road, is now engulfed in grief as a result of this calamity, which has also caused significant damage to numerous homes and businesses.

Meanwhile, the Federal Government recently officially removed the prohibition on mining operations in Zamfara State, five years after its implementation.

Naija News reports that the latest development was confirmed during a press conference by the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, represented by Segun Tomori, on Sunday, December 22, 2024.

The statement indicated that the Federal Government’s decision to lift the ban on mining exploration in Zamfara State was based on notable improvements in the security landscape throughout the region.

Alake remarked that Nigeria stands to benefit significantly from revitalized economic activities in a mineral-rich state like Zamfara, which is abundant in gold, lithium, and copper resources.

He further clarified that while the initial ban was well-intentioned, it inadvertently created a gap that illegal miners exploited, resulting in the loss of national resources.

Additionally, he highlighted the substantial potential of the state to enhance national revenue.

“The existential threat to lives and properties that led to the 2019 ban has abated. The security operatives’ giant strides have led to a notable reduction in the level of insecurity, and with the ban on exploration lifted, Zamfara’s mining sector can gradually begin contributing to the nation’s revenue pool.

“Since the beginning of the Tinubu administration, however, intelligence-driven, coordinated security operations have resulted in the neutralization of key bandit commanders, significantly reducing incidents of insecurity. A recent success was the capture of one of the most wanted bandit commanders, Halilu Sububu, in a covert operation in Zamfara,” Alake stated.

To Alake, lifting the ban would also facilitate better regulation of mining activities in the state.