By Jude Isiguzo
AN expectant mother, who was in the luxury bus that was attacked by robbers on the Ore-Sagamu Expressway at the weekend, yesterday relived her ordeal.
The bus was conveying pupils of Holy Rosary College, Enugu, fron Enugu to Lagos, when the incident occurred.
The woman, who pleaded for anonymity, said: “I was at Ekene Dili Chukwu bus station about 2pm with some other parents to pick my child, but we were told that the bus bringing our children from Enugu to Lagos developed a fault at Ore.
“The bus company management decided to send another bus to Ore to pick the children. Three male parents and I offered to go with the bus to Ore.
“When we got to the place where the faulty vehicle was parked, the kids were transferred into the new bus.
“After driving for sometime, we met other vehicles on the way, and they told us not to go any further because armed robbers were operating in front.
“Our driver parked, but after some time, he said he could no longer wait because he would be travelling early the following day and must get to Lagos on time.
“Despite our pleas, he drove on until we got to where the robbers were. The driver and conductor abandoned the bus and escaped into the bush.
“The robbers almost raped me. But when I told them I was pregnant, they let me be. It was just God that saved us.”
A male parent, who was also in the bus, said: “From the point where the driver and the bus conductor abandoned the vehicle and escaped, the robbers took over the steering, because the driver left the key in the ignition.
“They drove us into a bush and ordered all of us out of the vehicle. I had N135,000 on me and stuck it in one of the seats before going out of the bus.
“While the robbers were searching us and ransacking the bus, we heard gun shots, apparently from the police.
“The robbers ordered us to get back into the bus, but not all of us got in before they left hurriedly.
“Two other male parents and I were left behind with some students. Nobody was raped at that time, but I cannot tell what happened thereafter.”
He said one of the male parents was shot in the eye and he is receiving treatment at a private hospital.
He said they were rescued and brought to Lagos by the police.
Chairman of the school’s Parents’ Teachers’ Association (PTA) in Lagos Mr. Cyril Akunyili said they would sue the transport company for negligence. He said no pupil was raped.
He said: “Two day before the pupils embarked on that journey, I called the company’s manager in Enugu and he said they have provided a very good bus for them.
“I was surprised to hear that the bus developed a fault around 1pm. I called the manger again and he said it was a little problem and that the driver said he was fixing it. Later, we learnt from the students that the driver and conductor abandoned them and went into one village in Ore. I called the manager again and he said they had gone to fabricate the damaged part of the vehicle.
“That was when I knew there was a problem. We started calling company’s Lagos Office, but they were lackadaisical about the issue and did not agree to release another bus to go and pick the children until around 7pm.”
He said, if the company hadsent another bus on time, the incident would have been averted.
Akunyili said no parent has come out to say that his or her child was raped and that they have documents to prove their claims.
He said the pupils were taken to a hospital where they were checked and confirmed okay.
On the blood stains on the children’s uniforms, he said they were caused by bullet fragments from the gunshots.
“Even my daughter was injured by the fragments.”
The headteacher, Rev. Sister Mary Ani, arrived at Saint Agnes Catholic Church, Maryland, yesterday at 2:30pm and was welcomed by over 22 of the pupils and their parents.
Though she did not speak with reporters, Akunyili said she was there to give them some infomation that would prepare them for the legal battle with the transport company.
via The Nation
| Posted: at | |
winace
TRENDING GISTS 
See Tuition Fee Receipts Yahaya Bello Paid American School From 2025 Session Through 2031
SuperComputer Predicts EPL Title Winners After Victories For Both Arsenal And Man City
‘One Chance’ Robbery Gang Escape Lynching In Umuahia
Man Shoots His Friend Dead For Taking a Bite Out of His Girlfriend's Burger
Come Out And Confess Why You Kill Mohbad - Ghanaian Prophet Who Prophesied Junior Pope’s Death Calls Sam Larry
UPDATE: Security Operatives Launch Manhunt For 109 Fleeing Inmates Of Suleja Prison