NNEWI — At least six operatives of the Special Anti-Touting Squad of Anambra State (SASA), popularly known as Ndi Aka Odo, were killed on Friday after their vehicle collided with a tipper truck fully loaded with sand in Oba, Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra State.
The accident occurred along the Onitsha-Owerri expressway when the anti-tout squad’s vehicle rammed into the tipper, leaving several operatives dead on the spot, while others sustained varying degrees of injuries.
According to eyewitnesses, the crash occurred as the squad’s vehicle, a branded Toyota Hiace bus, was speeding out of a junction while conducting their daily stop-and-search operation. The bus collided with the tipper, which was coming out of another junction on the road.
One eyewitness, Peter Eze, recalled that the Toyota vehicle was carrying about eight young men at the time of the accident. “The vehicle was running at full speed before it rammed into the tipper,” he said. “Some operatives died instantly, while others were badly injured.”
The impact of the crash trapped some operatives inside their vehicle, and passers-by had to rescue their bodies from the wreckage. Over six lifeless bodies were seen on the road, while the injured were rushed to nearby hospitals for treatment.
The incident, which could have elicited sympathy, instead triggered jubilation among some members of the public who are frustrated with the tactics of the anti-tout squad. There has been growing anger over the squad’s recent illegal activities and the callous behavior of some operatives, which have sparked widespread criticism.
A video circulating on social media shows the aftermath of the accident, with lifeless bodies on the road and bystanders either assisting with the rescue efforts or condemning the actions of the victims and their squad.
When contacted for comment, a Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) official from Anambra State said he was driving and could not make a statement. The FRSC Public Relations Officer, Margaret Onabe, also said she was reaching out to personnel in the area to confirm details of the incident.
The State Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, could not be reached for comment at the time of this report.
It is worth noting that this incident follows previous controversies surrounding the anti-tout squad. Last year, a motor park operator, known as Mgbiliba, was brutally beaten by SASA operatives, an act that sparked nationwide outrage. Despite calls for the squad’s dissolution and scrapping, the state government ignored the pleas, and the operatives’ controversial actions have continued, with many citizens expressing discontent over the squad’s growing influence and methods.
(Vanguard)