By Adukwu Aruwa
A major tragic incident was averted on Thursday afternoon after a truck conveying a 40ft container fell in the middle of the ever busy Lokongoma market in Lokoja crushing two cars in the process.
The incident happened around some minutes past 4pm during the evening rush hour, resulting in a pandemonium with traders and buyers scampering for safety.
The truck was said to be heading out of town through the phase II route when it lost control and overturned.
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Subsequently, the 40ft container fell on two vehicles parked near tomatoe sellers. While one of the vehicles was empty, the other car had five children returning from graduation ceremony trapped under the container.
The incident which brought vehicular movement along the axis to a halt, led to wailing and panic within the market area.
When The Graphic arrived at the scene moments after the crash, a crain had been brought in to help in the rescue efforts.
A trader who witnessed the incident, told The Graphic that one of the occupants of the vehicle containing the kids had barely stepped from his stall were he sells tomatoes and pepper when the container fell, trapping the kids.
Eventually, all five children were rescued from the vehicle and moved from the scene by officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps and sympathisers.
As at the time of the report, the gridlock was still building along the route, while FRSC personnel were on ground helping to move the container from the road.
