By Sunday Apah
The Executive Chairman of Udu Local Government Council, Olorogun (Hon.) Vincent Ogheneruemu Oyibode, has expressed his deep sorrow over the recent tragic accident at the well-known Udu Bridge, extending his heartfelt condolences to the families grieving the loss of their loved ones.
Following a personal visit to the accident site, the Udu council leader assured the community that efforts would be made to restore order, reopen the bridge for both vehicle and pedestrian traffic, and enhance the safety of all road users in the future.
“Life is invaluable,” Oyibode remarked. “I urge all motorists to keep their loved ones in mind and exercise utmost caution while driving. Such accidents can be prevented if we remain vigilant about safety.”
Eyewitness accounts indicate that the accident occurred when a truck belonging to Julius Berger attempted to overtake a commercial tricycle, leading to a collision with a stationary trailer where a mechanic was working. The collision resulted in the trailer overturning, tragically crushing three passing tricycles carrying passengers.
The devastating accident led to severe traffic congestion along the busy Udu Bridge route, leaving motorists, students, traders, and workers traveling between Udu, Warri, and surrounding areas stranded for hours. Many people were forced to walk along alternative routes as emergency responders faced difficulties accessing the site due to the traffic jam.
Thanks to the prompt actions of the Udu council chairman, the remains of the mechanic, who was pronounced dead at the scene, were taken to an undisclosed mortuary. A towing service was later called in to remove the affected vehicles and restore traffic flow on the bridge.
To maintain order at the scene, security and safety personnel, including Divisional Officers from Ovwian/Aladja and Enerhen, as well as officers from the Nigeria Police and Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), were deployed to oversee the situation.
A survivor of the accident shared his harrowing experience during the moment of collision and expressed gratitude for his survival.
As of this report, the exact number of casualties has yet to be confirmed, though emergency response efforts are ongoing.
The Udu Local Government Council remains dedicated to ensuring public safety and calls on all drivers, particularly those operating heavy vehicles, to comply strictly with traffic regulations to prevent future incidents.
