Voter’s Card: Pregnant woman, one other crushed to death in Nsukka

There was tension in Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu State on Wednesday when a pregnant woman and another woman working at the council were crushed to death along Orba Road of the council.

The deceased women whose names were given as Mrs. Josephine Obetta and Caroline Ekeh left the council headquarters to their homes to get their Permanent Voter’s Cards (PVC) which was said to be a condition for the payment of their January salary when they met their untimely death.

According to an eyewitness, “The two women who were riding on a machine were trying to avoid an upcoming Okada man when the truck ram into them, killing the two women instantly and injuring the Okada man.”

Our correspondent gathered that workers of the council were already spoiling for war but the timely intervention of the NULGE chairman calmed down the nerves of the workers.

The Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Nsukka chapter chairman, Mr. George Ngwu, confirmed the incident and said he calmed the already charged atmosphere by ordering for the suspension of the payment of salary when the news of the unfortunate incident filtered into the council.

Ngwu blamed the Nsukka LGA for not posting the circular for council workers to bring their documents for verification in good time.

He added that if the circular was pasted before the close of work on Tuesday, possibly the death of the two women would have been avoided.

He said, “We all saw the directive that voter’s card was a prerequisite for verification of payment of salary this morning and these women were only trying to comply by going home to get their PVC when they met their untimely death.”

Efforts by The Daily Times to speak with the chairman, Chief Patrick Omeje, on why the presentation of PVC should serve as a condition for the payment of salary proved abortive as he was said to be out of town.