From Paul Osuyi, Asaba
Resumption of academic activities in public primary and secondary schools across Delta State has suffered a temporary setback following the death of three principals and one vice principal in an accident along the Benin-Sapele expressway at the weekend.
Public schools were to resume today following the suspension of the three-week-old strike by teachers under the aegis of the National Union of Teachers (NUT), Delta State wing, last Friday. But the sad news about the sudden demise of the school heads, whose identities were yet to be revealed as at press time, forced the state government to declare today a day of mourning in honour of the fallen officers.
The accident, which occurred close to Mosogar Bridge along the expressway involved a white Toyota Hiace bus with registration number BEN 552 PK, which the deceased and others who sustained injuries were traveling in.
They were said to be coming from Benin City, Edo State, for a meeting of the association of secondary school principals, which was to hold in Kwale, Ndokwa West Local Government Area of Delta State, when the bus had a burst tyre.
Delta State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Mr. Rindom Kumven, who confirmed the crash yesterday to our correspondent in Asaba, said through a text message that, out of 11 people involved in the crash, two died and nine sustained injuries.
Kumven said the bodies of the deceased, who were both female, were deposited at the mortuary of the Delta State University Teaching Hospital (DELSUTH), Oghara, in Ethiope West Local Government Area of the state.
He added that some of the injured, including eight females and one male, were also taken to the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) for treatment.
Declaring the day of mourning in a statement, the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Mr. Chiedu Ebie, expressed regret at the death of the school officials.
Ebie stated that the ministry “received the news of their tragic and untimely death with great shock. The loss of these dedicated officers at the prime of their service to the state and the nation has created a huge vacuum that would be difficult to fill.
“Our hearts also go out to the other principals and director of the Post-Primary Education Board (PPEB), who sustained varying degrees of injury in the accident.”
According to him, Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa has directed that all public schools should be closed today, with the exception of schools being used for WASSCE examinations, to mourn the officers.
While commiserating with the bereaved families, colleagues and students, and praying for speedy recovery of the injured, Ebie said normal classes would resume tomorrow, ahead of the commencement of second term examinations on Wednesday, March 29, 2017.