By Samuel Oyadongha
Yenagoa—Tragedy struck in the early hours of yesterday in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, when a soldier attached to the Joint Task Force lost his life in an Okada accident, while his colleague suffered serious injuries with broken ribs.

Vanguard learnt that the incident occurred some minute after midnight as the soldiers were returning from a night out when their Okada rammed into the wall of the round about connecting the popular Imgbi/Sani Abacha/Swali road in the heart of the capital city.

The deceased soldier was identified as Private Abubakar Musa, while the name of the survivor was given as Simeon Edet.

Informed sources told Vanguard that the deceased solider, until his death, was serving in Ogbia.

According to sources, the deceased soldier had concluded arrangement to marry his heartthrob of many years before the end of the month.

The late army private, who was riding the ill-fated Okada, it was learnt, died on the spot due to the impact of accident while his colleague sustained serious injuries.

The injured Edet, whose rank could not be immediately ascertained, was reportedly rushed to the Glory Land Medical Centre in Yenagoa by sympathizers.

Vanguard reliably gathered that the soldiers who might have been drunk when the accident occurred, had gone to a relaxation spot around the Hospital road junction in company of other colleagues after the day’s work.

They were, however, involved in the fatal crash as they were returning to their base around Opolo in the Opolo suburb of the state capital.

Colleagues of the deceased soldiers were seen discussing the tragic incident when this reporter visited the JTF base at Biogbolo in Yenagoa.

One of the deceased colleagues who spoke anonymously said the late Musa was planning to marry before the end of the month and had concluded arrangement for the event which he lamented would not hold again as a result of death.

In an emotional laden voice, he said “I don’t know what to say but this surely is a sad moment for us his colleagues. As you see, we are not happy over the fate that befell our man.

“Unknown to many, he (Musa) had concluded arrangement to marry before the end of this month and he was so enthusiastic about the event but did not live to see the day.”

The body of the deceased has since been deposited at the Federal Medical Centre in Yenagoa.

Contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Ibokette Iniobong (DSP), confirmed the accident but declined further comment ostensibly because the persons involved were military men.