It was a heart wrenching moment as parents and guardians watched the remains of their children and wards draped in Nigerian flags brought out of the belly of the C-130 Air Force jet marked NAF 917, which conveyed them back to Akwa Ibom State.
Tears streaming down the cheeks and the forlorn look on their faces aptly captured their mood.
The pains and sorrows they are passing through since the tragedy occurred are gargantuan.
The accident which claimed the lives of the five graduates reportedly happened along Abaji/Kwali expressway when the driver of an 18-seater bus in which they were travelling ran into a stationary trailer in the early hours of Wednesday, July 28.
They were travelling to Katsina State where they had been posted for their National Youth Service.
Seven others sustained severe injuries and were rushed to a government hospital in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, for treatment.
Killed were Upere Innocent Peter and Akpan Victor Joseph, both graduates of Mass Communication from Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic; as well as Asuquo Miracle Effiong, graduate of Psychology; Ekikoh Stella Sylvester, graduate of Sociology and Anthropology and Ezuruike Coleman Chikwado, graduate of History and International Studies, all of University of Uyo.
The authorities of University of Uyo and Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic, Ikot Osurua, drew up elaborate, but solemn programmes to mourn their departed former students.
Grief
Overwhelmed by grief, relatives of the deceased called for the restriction of the postings of future NYSC members to their geo-political zones, to avoid long journeys and possible death in accidents.
Besides, they want the Federal Government to pay compensations to the bereaved families, recommending job provision for the siblings of the deceased to cushion the tragedy.
-Vanguard
