By Our Reporter
CALABAR (CONVERSEER) – The Cross River State Chapter Chairman of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Comrade Emmanuel Olayi, on Thursday narrowly escaped death alongside four others after their vehicle was involved in a road traffic accident while en route to a central youth engagement in the state.
The accident occurred between 3:00 PM and 4:00 PM along the Nko/Inyima axis of the Ikom-Calabar Expressway en route to Obubra LGA, as Olayi and members of his team were travelling ahead of the main convoy to the next engagement point. The trip was part of the Central Youth Engagement Tour organised by the Cross River State Commissioner for Special Duties, Hon. Oden Ewa.
Speaking with journalists from his hospital bed, Olayi explained that the red Toyota Corolla conveying him, three aides, and a driver suddenly skidded off the major expressway despite the driver’s efforts to regain control. The vehicle veered into a nearby bush, tumbled repeatedly, and eventually crashed into a tree.
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According to him, the impact left the occupants with varying degrees of injuries. Olayi said they sustained injuries in the head, neck, and chest, while one of his aides was temporarily unable to use his legs immediately after the accident. He, however, confirmed that no life was lost in the incident.
The NYCN chairman disclosed that commercial motorcycle riders in the area were the first to respond to the scene, assisting in opening the damaged vehicle and rescuing the occupants. They were initially taken to the General Hospital, Ugep, where they received first aid before being transferred by ambulance to the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH) for further medical attention.
Olayi clarified that his vehicle was the only one involved in the crash, noting that it was travelling ahead of the main convoy at the time of the accident. Other vehicles in the convoy later stopped after the victims had been moved to safety.
As of the time of filing this report, Olayi and the other occupants of the vehicle were responding to treatment at UCTH, while the damaged vehicle remained at the crash site pending recovery. Further details on the cause of the accident were still emerging.
The incident has drawn concern from youth leaders and stakeholders across the state, with many expressing gratitude that no life was lost and wishing the victims a speedy recovery.
