Journalist Reacts To Killing Of Female Student By ‘Reckless’ Army Truck Driver

A journalist in Yobe has reacted to the death of a female student crushed by a speeding Army truck in Damaturu, accusing the army of reckless driving.

Princess Teemah Paga, a staff of the Yobe state Television Station and former chairperson of the National Association of Women Journalist (NAWOJ), accused the Nigerian Army of driving recklessly and over speeding, resulting to the killing of a female student of the Federal Polytechnic Damaturu, Firdausi Aisha on Saturday, November 9, 2019.

In a post on her facebook page, Paga said: “Reckless driving and over speeding by men of the Nigerian army has been on the increase and has claimed many lives in Damaturu. Enough is enough! We cannot be bullied into silence. An injury to one is an injury to all. Rest in Jannatil Firdausi Aisha.”

But the Nigerian Army has issued a statement regarding it, through the Assistant Director Army Public Relations, Sector 2, Operation LAFIYA DOLE, Njoka Irabor.

The army expressed regret over the lives that were lost but promised to investigate what led to the incident.

The statement reads in part: “The Acting Commander Sector 2 Operation LAFIYA DOLE, Brigadier General Ibrahim Sallau Ali, on behalf of Officers and Soldiers of the Sector wishes to most sincerely commiserate with families of victims of the unfortunate road traffic accident involving a tricycle and a patrol vehicle that occurred on Saturday 9 November 2019 in Damaturu.

“The unfortunate accident is highly regrettable, especially that precious lives were lost – a toddler and a female student of the Federal Polytechnic Damaturu lost their lives.

“Additionally, this Headquarters has since paid a condolence visit to the deceased families and all those civilians involved in the accident.

“Accordingly, the Sector has since conveyed a Board of Inquiry to unravel the circumstances that led to the unfortunate incident.