NIS Orders Investigation into Death of Officers in Road Accident

Michael Olugbode in Abuja

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has ordered an immediate investigation into the cause of a road accident that killed four personnel of the Service last Sunday.

Four members of the NIS band were reportedly killed on the Abuja-Kaduna-Kano highway while returning from Kano where they had gone to entertain guests at an official function.

Briefing journalists on the incident in Abuja yesterday, the Service Public Relations Officer, Dr. Dotun Aridegbe, confirmed the death of four personnel of the Service in the accident, saying it involved 11 personnel.

He said: “An immediate investigation has been ordered by the acting CGI to ascertain the remote cause of the accident. “We are committed to understanding the circumstances that led to this tragic event, and will take appropriate measures to prevent such incidents in the future.”

He said the 11 officers were returning to Abuja from an official assignment in Kano on an 18-seater official bus when they got involved in the fatal accident a few kilometres from Kano.

The PRO lamented that: “As a result of the accident, four of our personnel lost their lives. Seven of our colleagues who sustained various degrees of injuries are currently receiving treatment at the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital in Kano.”

Aridegbe said arrangements for the burials of the dead personnel were being organised with utmost care and respect.

He said the acting Comptroller-General of Immigration, Caroline Adepoju, has “directed all Commands and formation heads to fly our flag at half-mast for the next seven days.

“We will observe a three-day mourning period in honour and memory of our fallen colleagues.”