It was gathered that the victims were burnt to death as the Sport Utility Vehicle they were traveling in burst into flames after crashing into a stationary truck laden with gravel. The horrific accident happened at the Otulu junction on the Benin-Asaba-Onitsha expressway as the vehicle conveying Mr. Ofili and the traditional ruler rammed from behind into a truck with an Edo registration number FUG 238 XA.
Eyewitnesses said the traditional ruler was driving while Mr. Ofili was on the passenger side at the time of the accident. The rear tyres of the truck bursted from the impact, with the SUV burnt beyond recognition.
Tears rolled freely down the cheeks of eyewitnesses as a rescue team made frantic but futile efforts to extricate the burnt corpses of the victims trapped in the SUV.
Officials of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) had a hectic time controlling traffic on the expressway as there was a temporary gridlock resulting from the accident.
The accident also cut short the euphoria that marked the primaries of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to elect chairmanship candidates for the October 25 council election in the state.
Mr. Ofili was reported to be interested in running for a seat in the Delta State House of Assembly to represent Aniocha North constituency. A source said Mr. Ofili, who used to be a blogger, had monitored the primary election in his council area before embarking on the journey with the traditional ruler.
Mr. Ofili had recently begun to unveil some philanthropic gestures to communities in his council area as part of his campaign for a state legislative seat. He tagged his campaign ‘Liberation Mandate’.
He was formerly based in the state of Maryland in the US resident where he used to edit a website, the “Times of Nigeria.”
Rest in peace
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