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KOGI, Nigeria - Following a tragic auto accident in Okene, Kogi State, which resulted in the loss of six lives and left five people injured, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has expressed her condolences and made an urgent appeal for effective measures to enhance road safety.
The senator, visibly shaken by the incident affecting her Kogi Central constituency, characterized the event as alarming and a stark reminder of the dangers associated with Nigeria's roads.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by her Chief Press Secretary, Arogbonlo Israel, she expressed sorrow for the victims and offered prayers for their families to find solace.
"My heartfelt sympathies go to the families of the victims and those injured," Akpoti-Uduaghan remarked. "I hope the bereaved can find strength during this difficult time, and I wish a swift and complete recovery to the injured."
Additionally, she urged both the public and governmental entities to make road safety a priority and avert further fatalities. "Our roads cannot continue to be death traps.
The government must take swift and resolute action to investigate the causes of this incident and to prevent future tragedies," she emphasized.
Akpoti-Uduaghan also called for a nationwide road safety awareness initiative, specifically aimed at commercial drivers, as they hold significant responsibility for the safety of their passengers.
While inquiries are anticipated to start soon, many residents of Okene believe this tragedy highlights an underlying systemic failure. To them, Akpoti-Uduaghan serves as a voice of compassion and a long-overdue demand for accountability.
