A devastating road accident involving a Dangote truck on Wednesday has left a young graduate of Auchi Polytechnic, Edo State, Otanor Ruth Bodom, battling for her life after doctors amputated one of her legs.
Medical officials have warned that her second leg may also need to be amputated due to the severity of her injuries.
Bodom had only recently completed her Higher National Diploma (HND) in Marketing last week when the incident occurred. She was reportedly struck by the truck moments after leaving the polytechnic’s premises.
Her sister, Josephina Otabor, revealed that eyewitnesses described the driver as an underage boy who had no valid driver’s licence. She added that the young driver attempted to flee the scene but was pursued and apprehended by commercial motorcycle riders.
“From the police’s initial findings, it is clear the driver was unlicensed. How could such a massive vehicle be entrusted to a child? Why would Dangote, of all companies, employ someone without a licence? This is pure exploitation just to cut costs,” Josephina lamented.
The injured graduate was first taken to Hadiza Hospital in Jetu before being moved to Irua Teaching Hospital, Edo State, where she is still in critical condition. The motorcyclist carrying her during the collision also sustained life-threatening injuries.
Eyewitness accounts indicate the crash took place within the school’s vicinity. The truck was later seized and taken to the police station in Ibie, Auchi.
However, Bodom’s relatives have accused the police of deliberately withholding information on the case. They allege there has been no transparency regarding the driver’s detention or the progress of the investigation.
“Other than parking the truck outside the station, there has been no word on the driver’s whereabouts. The police are keeping us in the dark,” a family member claimed.
But when contacted, the spokesperson for the Edo State Police Command, SP Yamu Moses Joel, dismissed the allegations of a cover-up.
Speaking to Chronicles Reporters, he explained that the driver had already been arraigned in court, where he admitted guilt to three of the four charges filed against him. The case, according to Joel, was adjourned to August 21.
Repeated attempts to reach the Dangote Group’s spokesperson, Tony Chiejina, proved unsuccessful. He neither answered phone calls nor responded to text messages sent to him despite earlier requesting the questions in writing.