A couple died in an auto crash in Mabushi area, Abuja on Wednesday when they were chased by roadside touts, popularly known as ‘agbero’
It was learnt that one of the touts also died in the incident.
The accident occurred on the Nnamdi Azikwe Expressway between Mabushi and Bannex, an area known for the activities of roadside touts.
Witnesses said the accident occurred when the touts attempted to hijack the couple’s car.
Another witness, who could not properly identify himself said the vehicle rammed into a taxi when two of the touts jumped into the moving vehicle and attempted to get hold of the steering.
He said the couple and one of the touts died at the scene.
However, different source claimed that five persons were involved in the crash, a family of two and three touts who forced themselves into the vehicle while it was in motion.
Eyewitnesses said the vehicle then collided with a painted taxi, near the Mabushi bridge, before veering off the road into a ditch.
The family reportedly died on the spot, while the three others were rescued and taken to the National Hospital for treatment.
Police sources dismissed a claim in a viral video that angry residents of the area burnt some of the touts to death.
The bodies of the couple were also said to have been deposited at the morgue of the National hospital.
The police said there were no means of identifying the deceased couple.
The Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Felix Theman, confirmed the incident.
He said the scene had been cleared before his men arrived.
He said, ‘’Based on the information I received, no one died at the crash site and the injured were taken to the hospital.’’
When contacted, the Public Relations Officer of the FCT Police Command, Josephine Adeh, said that she only saw the video but could not comment on the details since it was an incident involving touts, not the police.
The Mabushi corridor is a notorious area for roadside harassment on passerby and innocent motorist by touts (Agberos). Motorists familiar with the corridor called on the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to clamp down on road ‘agberos’
Several drivers lamented over the unguarded behavior of the touts on that corridor and call on the authority to quickly intervene.
