Tragedy struck Friday afternoon on the failed Calabar-Itu federal highway as 17 persons were crushed to death in a fatal crash involving a containerized trailer and a commercial bus.

Eyewitnesses told newsmen that the accident occurred when a 40-foot trailer veered off its lane, crushing a 16-seater bus travelling from Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, to Calabar.

The eyewitness, identified simply as Emmanuel, said the trailer landed directly on the bus, killing all 17 occupants, 16 passengers and the driver, on the spot.

“There were no survivors. The trailer completely smashed the bus. It was a horrific scene,” Emmanuel recounted.

He blamed the accident on the deplorable condition of the Calabar-Itu highway, which he said has been undergoing repairs for more than 15 years without any meaningful progress.

As of the time of filing this report, the corpses of the victims had been evacuated to an undisclosed mortuary by community youths and concerned individuals.

Efforts to reach officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and the police in Calabar for comments were unsuccessful, as neither agency was willing to speak on the incident.

The Nigerian Guild of Editors said it has suspended one of its members, Mr Steve Osuji, for violating the “off-the-record” provision in the Code of Ethics for journalists in Nigeria.

In a press statement jointly signed by the President, Mr Eze Anaba, and General Secretary, Mr. Onuoha Ukeh, it said that there was an agreement that the keynote address delivered by the Director-General of the State Security Service, Mr Adeola Ajayi, at its 25th Biennial National Convention in Enugu, was off the record and not for publication.

The Guild said that despite the announcement of this agreement, “a senior journalist and member of the Guild, Mr. Steve Osuji, published an article based on the presentation on his social media platforms, breaching our Code of Ethics on confidentiality.”

The professional body said that it “takes this professional misconduct seriously and has announced the suspension of Mr. Osuji from our professional body for one year, effective immediately.”

The NGE apologized to the Director-General of the SSS and the institution he represents for the embarrassment caused by Osuji’s actions, while reaffirming its “commitment to upholding the highest standards of journalism and ensuring that our members adhere to our code of ethics.”

The NGE said that “Mr Osuji will have the opportunity to appeal this decision.”

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, has suggested that former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has a spiritual problem.

Wike made the remark while rubbishing Amaechi’s claim that he has no houses because he’s not corrupt.

He pointed out that if Amaechi could be a Speaker, Governor, and Minister without owning a house, then he has a spiritual problem.

Wike disclosed this while featuring on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Friday night.

Dismissing Amaechi’s claim, the Minister stated that Amaechi has a house in Abuja that a poor man can’t afford.

According to Wike: “He said I have houses. Amaechi was Speaker for eight years, Governor for eight years, and Minister for eight years, and he does not have houses? Then he has a spiritual problem.

“Nigerians should know the kind of characters deceiving them every day, pretending.

“I will tell you about his house in Guzape here where I live. You need a bunker to destroy that house.

“I’m trying to show the quality, I’m not saying I would destroy the house. You can’t be a poor man and have such a house.”

He said he does not have this and that, where is his house? It’s in old GRA. Who built it? I heard him say NPA and NIMASA have not paid contractors, yes, because they have not paid his wife, who is a contractor.”