5-year-old pupil crushed on way to school in Abuja

A 5-year-old primary 2 pupil, Gaza Damilo, was on Tuesday morning crushed to death by a speeding driver at Aleita, along the Airport Road in Abuja. The pupil was said to be on his way to school when the incident happened. Our reporter, who was at the scene few minutes after the incident, observed a mob […]

A 5-year-old primary 2 pupil, Gaza Damilo, was on Tuesday morning crushed to death by a speeding driver at Aleita, along the Airport Road in Abuja.

The pupil was said to be on his way to school when the incident happened.

Our reporter, who was at the scene few minutes after the incident, observed a mob pouring petrol on the vehicle and setting it ablaze.

A witness, Francis Godwin, said the incident, which happened around 7:37am, involved a Mazda car with registration number KWL 943 DE.

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He said the yet-to-be identified driver was on top speed from Pyakasa bypass when he crushed the pupil, who was on his way to school.

He said some residents, including the driver, rushed the boy to a nearby clinic at Aleita, where a doctor confirmed him dead.

According to him, some angry boys, thereafter, mobilised to the clinic and demanded that the doctor hand over the driver to them to lynch.

The deceased’s uncle, Gabriel Jacob, said the boy, who was in Primary 2, was on his way to a private school when he was crushed to death.

He said the deceased, who would be celebrating his five years birthday today, (Tuesday), was confirmed dead at the clinic he was rushed to.

He alleged that the same driver almost knocked down a resident of Aleita while driving from Pyakasa on Monday to the extent that the residents wanted to fight him.

He said, “It was the same driver that almost knocked down someone along that road when he was coming on speed from Pyakasa. I even stopped him and queried him for being reckless and he told me that if I am jealous, I should go and buy my own car.”

Jacob, who spoke in tears, joined others to demand that the driver should be released for jungle justice.

Abuja Metro observed as neighbours trooped to the clinic discussing the incident in groups.

Our reporter also observed as the mob were struggling to force one of the clinic’s doors open to bring out the driver before the policemen arrived.

The youths still stood their grounds despite the arrival of the policemen, insisting that the driver must be handed over to them to lynch.

As at the time our reporter left the scene at about 9:45am, policemen and the angry youths were still standing in front of the clinic.

Policemen at the scene confirmed the incident but said details were still sketchy.

The spokeswoman for the FCT Police Command, SP Josephine Adeh, did not reply to a text message sent to her on the incident as at the time of filing this report.