Another Councillor Dies In Auto Crash

A councilor, Mr Peter Osang representing Alanku Ward in Boki Local Government Area of Cross River State has died in a crash in his Hyundai Accent car given to the 196 councillors in the 18 local government areas of the state

The tragedy happened midweek along the pothole riddled Ikom –Obudu highway while he was  on his way to his village,  Ashishie in the Eastern axis of the Boki Local Government Area.

Mr Osang, P.M.NEWS gathered, was  returning from Abu community in the Boki Local Government area, where he attended a political function, in which the member representing Boki  two in the State House of Assembly, Hon. Alex Ebu reportedly declared his ambition to return to the House for a record third term.

Mr. Augustine Otu, the Community Chairman in charge of the Ashishie village said: “the councilor was already approaching his village when his vehicle hit a pot hole and  veered off the tarred road and rammed into a big gmelina tree, killing the man instantly.”

While Osang  died on the spot, it was gathered that his friend, Barrister Chris Obun who sat beside the driver’s seat, was rushed to hospital with broken limps.

At press time, Ashishie village was in turmoil, as some youths of the community reportedly went wild, threatening to lynch the 80-year old father to the late councilor, Elder Simon Osang, as the octogenarian was alleged to have confessed that he was behind the motor accident, allegedly claiming that he was a wizard.

Following his alleged confession, the youth reportedly went berserk, saying that the suspected wizard should be killed. But following the timely intervention of the police, the aged man was smuggled out of his house to the  Bateriko Police Station  by armed policemen.

The man who said to be an elder in Deeper Life Christian Church, reportedly escaped death as members of his church in the village, reportedly alerted the police in good time, and some policemen were immediately drafted to scene to rescue him.

Some police officers who confirmed that Elder Osong was in their custody, said he was taken away from the village for safety purpose, explaining that the man was not under any arrest as a suspect in the death of the councilor.

Although the octogenarian narrowly escaped death, his residential house was reportedly attacked by the rampaging youths who allegedly vandalized some of his property, including windows, doors, chairs and other property.

The demise of the councillor brings to five the number of councillors who have died since the cars were handed to them in 2008.

Peter, who died at the  age of about 45, left  behind his wife, Mrs. Elizabeth Osang, seven children (six boys and a girl) and aged parents, who were both said to be over 80 years old.

The man’s distraught wife could not speak to P.M.News as she was weeping while surrounded by sympathisers, who were also weeping uncontrollably to share their grief over the tragic death

The corpse of the late councillor has been deposited at Muniaya hospital mortuary in Ogoja Local Government, while the family of the deceased was said to have commenced preparations for the deceased to be buried on the first week of next month.

—Emma Una/ Calabar