By Jesse Ese

National News – Concerned Bayelsans have blamed the accident that occurred around the 4-Road axis of Obogoro, Yenagoa, during the visit of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to Bayelsa State on the removal of speed breakers mounted in the area.

The speed breakers had existed for years and were installed by the leadership of the community to slow down traffic and curb incessant accidents caused by overspeeding along the busy corridor.

Community sources who spoke with National News editorial desk recounted that the accident occurred as vehicles in the presidential convoy descended from the bridge toward the 4-Road axis.

They noted that the absence of the traffic-calming measures contributed to the high speed that led to the fatal crash.

Residents further stated that the speed breakers were removed in preparation for the smooth movement of the presidential convoy during the high-profile visit. Not too long after that, tragedy struck.

Our correspondent visited the 4-Road axis of Obogoro, Yenagoa, to independently ascertain the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Observations at the scene revealed clear signs of impact along roadside furniture shops, where the convoy vehicle reportedly crashed after hitting pedestrians, including a mechanic identified as Daniel, who had stepped out to buy personal items.

Further checks at the 4-Road roundabout showed that while the speed breakers on the roads leading to Famgbe and Akaba remained intact, those along the straight stretch from the Swali Market Bridge toward the Ayama/Angiama-Oporoma axis had been completely removed, apparently to allow the presidential convoy pass without slowing down at the location.

It was also gathered from community sources that the speed breakers were removed by the Bayelsa State Government ahead of the President’s visit.

A total of 4 speed breakers in the area were removed prior to the president’s visit.

Three Killed as Convoy Heads to Angiama For Commissioning

The fatal accident occurred on April 10 – very close to the speed breakers at the 4-Road axis of Obogoro in Yenagoa as the presidential convoy was heading to the Angiama-Oporoma Bridge for commissioning.

Eyewitnesses said the convoy was coming from the Swali market axis when one of the vehicles at the rear of the convoy lost control and rammed into furniture shops along the roadside.

One confirmed dead on the spot, two others allegedly died later

One person identified as Daniel, a mechanic, died on the spot, while two others, an Hausa man whose identity is yet to be ascertained and another victim were alleged to have died later.

After the tragic incident, a woman living around the 4-Road area who is the sister of the mechanic was seen in anguish; crying and screaming the name of the deceased ‘Daniel.’

Several others sustained injuries and were rushed to hospitals, though the exact number of injured persons remains unclear.

Videos from the scene showed victims lying on the ground, damaged roadside structures, and residents scrambling to rescue victims.

Panic, Tear Gas and Confrontation

Eyewitnesses disclosed that the incident sparked immediate outrage among residents, who expressed anger that despite the fatal crash, the convoy continued its movement without stopping to assess the situation or express concern for the victims.

This reportedly infuriated youths and bystanders in the area, who quickly mobilized and seized the vehicle involved in the accident.

The development led to heightened tension as residents demanded accountability and insisted that authorities must acknowledge the loss of lives before any attempt was made to move the vehicle from the scene.

The outrage, panic and protest continued in the area as witnesses said the government was only interested in moving the vehicle away, rather than taking responsibility for the damage done, but security operatives started firing warning shots into the air.

Tear gas was subsequently deployed to disperse the crowd as tension escalated.

The tension heightened to the extent military personnel were quickly mobilized to the scene for the purpose of retrieving the vehicle involved in the accident.

A few minutes later, the angry youths demanding accountability were overpowered, and the vehicle was retrieved.

Youths Block Road, Demand Accountability

A few moments later, youths from neighbouring communities, including Akaba and Obogoro, blocked the road following the incident, insisting that the President should not pass without addressing the loss of lives.

The confrontation lasted for some time before additional security operatives moved in again.

Police later fired additional warning shots and tear gas before evacuating injured victims from the scene.

A Day of Celebration Turns Tragic

President Tinubu had visited Bayelsa State to commission major projects, including the 60MW Gas Turbine Project and the Angiama-Oporoma Bridge among others.

The projects were widely celebrated as key infrastructure expected to boost economic growth and connectivity in Bayelsa.

But while officials celebrated these developmental projects, some families were thrown into mourning, with nobody to sympathize with them.

The pain is even worsened by the fact that those who inflicted these injuries on them did not consider them worthy enough to say a word to them days after the fatal incident.

This silence has attracted widespread condemnation from most Bayelsan residents and social media users who also expressed concern that no official sympathy had been extended to the affected families days after the incident.

Official Silence

Despite the gravity of the incident, there has been no official statement from the Presidency, Governor Douye Diri or any representative of the government, and the security agencies who used military might to retrieve the vehicle and its occupants who sustained injuries.

The Bayelsa State Police Command

Efforts to obtain official confirmation and details of the incident have yielded no response.

The Public Relations Officer of the Bayelsa State Police Command, ASP Ahmed Musa, paid deaf ears to the matter despite unrelenting efforts to get their reaction.

Residents say the silence has deepened anger and suspicion, particularly as videos and eyewitness accounts continue to circulate.

Strong Reaction

Reacting to the developments, Solomon Charles Ikpaka, the Coordinator of Safe and Better Nigeria (SBN), described the incident as deeply troubling.

He said, “If these allegations are true, it reflects a system that appears disturbingly indifferent to human life, where even moments of welcome turn tragic without accountability.”

“While citizens continue to suffer from violence in parts of the North, it is deeply alarming because such an alleged incident in the South further fuels the perception that those in power are failing in their most basic duty to protect lives rather than endanger them,” he said.

Another Bayelsan, Tamarapreye Sylva, said it is painful that politicians who go to every door during election campaigns can be so insensitive to such a tragic incident involving innocent lives.

“Up till this moment, not even a word from the government; simply because they want to give the impression that everything went fine during the president’s visit. What about the families that have been thrown into mourning and perpetual pain?” he said.

Unanswered Questions

• Three Nigerians are allegedly dead.

• The speed breakers that once slowed traffic are gone.

• The convoy has moved on.

• And Bayelsa State remains silent.

Everybody is silent, but the big question is: What will be the fate of the bereaved families, and why is the government not concerned about this disturbing development that has cut short the lives of those innocent Nigerians?