The Coalition of Edo Civil Society Organisations (CECSO) has absolved Dangote Cement of blame within the current tragic accident alongside the Auchi-Okpella-Okene highway, close to the Omega Fire Ministry in Auchi, Etsako West LGA of Edo State, insisting that opposite to on-line reviews, the corporate’s truck was not liable for the deadly crash.
In an in depth investigative report launched on Tuesday and signed by its president, Comrade James Osahon, the coalition mentioned its unbiased findings aligned with police affirmation that it was a third-party cement truck, not the Dangote Cement CNG truck, that triggered the chain of occasions resulting in the accident.
CECSO described as “malicious and mischievous” the try by sure {groups} and on-line platforms to unexpectedly blame Dangote for the tragedy, stressing that such misinformation not solely disrespects the lifeless but in addition undermines efforts at holding the actual culprits accountable.
“After a careful on-the-ground investigation, which included visits to the accident scene and consultations with security personnel, we can authoritatively confirm that the accident was not caused by the Dangote Cement CNG truck. The evidence overwhelmingly shows that a third-party truck, loaded with cement, lost control on a slope due to suspected brake failure and rammed into other vehicles before colliding with the Dangote truck,” Osahon mentioned.
He defined that the Dangote truck turned an unlucky sufferer of circumstance when it was struck on the aspect after the errant truck misplaced management, which ultimately brought on the Dangote car to catch fireplace.
The coalition additional bolstered its place with the official assertion of the Edo State Police Command. The Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Moses Yamu, had earlier confirmed that three autos had been concerned within the accident — two vehicles and a Mercedes-Benz GLK.
According to him, all three occupants of the GLK had been evacuated to the hospital the place they had been confirmed lifeless, whereas the Dangote truck that caught fireplace was later introduced underneath management.
CECSO famous that this clear police affirmation invalidates the false narratives being pushed on-line, accusing some {groups} of intentionally looking for to “drag the name of Dangote through the mud.”
“This smear campaign is nothing but a hatchet job. We are aware that some shadowy interests are uncomfortable with the growing strides of Dangote Cement, particularly in the area of safer, cleaner CNG trucks now deployed on Nigerian roads. These individuals seize every tragedy as an opportunity to malign the company. But truth is sacred, and no amount of propaganda will change the facts,” Osahon declared.
The coalition harassed that civil society in Edo won’t sit idly by whereas falsehood is weaponised in opposition to companies and communities, warning that spreading misinformation in moments of tragedy solely fuels public anger and diverts consideration from systemic highway security lapses that really require pressing options.
“We must not allow reckless narratives to overshadow the core issues of road safety, vehicle maintenance, and stronger regulation of third-party transport operators. What happened in Auchi is tragic, but blaming the wrong party will not bring back the lives lost or prevent future accidents,” CECSO declared.
The group additionally commiserated with households of the deceased and urged authorities businesses to fast-track highway security reforms, together with stricter enforcement of haulage car requirements to cut back accidents brought on by brake failure and poor car upkeep.
Reaffirming its dedication to transparency and accountability, CECSO mentioned it might proceed to watch the case to make sure that the victims obtain justice and that correct data reaches the general public.
“We stand with the truth, and the truth is simple: Dangote Cement did not cause this accident. Any report suggesting otherwise is false, misleading, and driven by ulterior motives. We urge Nigerians to ignore such fake news and focus on demanding stronger road safety reforms. Our coalition remains committed to speaking truth to power and defending the integrity of our communities,” Osahon concluded.
