Peace Mass Transit is trending number one on Twitter Naija, and it’s all for a wrong reasons. Apparently, there was an accident involving one of the transport company’s buses on Thursday. The unfortunate incident happened along the Lagos-Ore-Benin Expressway and according to eyewitnesses, it was fatal.
Further details: Peace Mass Transit has issued a lengthy statement confirming that there was a head-on collision between their bus and another bus belonging to one of their competitors — GUO Transport Co.
The statement further disclosed that passengers in both buses were affected by the accident, even as a total of four people died on the spot. Other people sustained various forms of injuries.
Peace Mass Transit also used the medium to express its regret over the accident, whilst expressing condolences to the families of the victims. The company said the appropriate agencies were investigating the accident in a bid to “establish the truth and avoid a recurrence.” GUO has not released any public statement regarding this development.
In the meantime, Nigerians on Social Media were advised to be careful of their commentary patterning to the incident, bearing in mind the sensitive nature of the subject matter.
[READ MORE: Peace Mass Transit MD returns N2.2 billion excess deposit to banks]
..an unfortunate incident which we deeply regret. We enjoin social media posters to be mindful of the sensibilities of persons in this situation and their families,and refrain from spreading salacious,untruthful accounts, unrelated to any reality.
We are cooperating with..— Peace Mass Transit (@PMTNigeria) December 13, 2019
Nigerians are outraged: Meanwhile, the general reaction expressed by Nigerians regarding this issue has been mostly characterised by anger. A Twitter user shared supposed pictures of the accident and claimed that “all 18 passengers died”. This, therefore, contradicts what Peace Mass Transit said in their statement.
https://twitter.com/Ernie_Presh/status/1205314399801618432
Based on their reactions, it is obvious that people’s anger boils down to the fact that there have been many road accidents involving Peace Mass Transit buses. One Twitter user even wondered aloud why these accidents always involve the company’s buses.
High way to the grave!
Peace Mass Transit bus involved in ghastly accident along Ore-Benin express way killing all 18 passengers.
Me: Why always PEACE MASS TRANSIT? pic.twitter.com/SMmEqGCfdF
— SAVIOLA IKECHUKWU GODWIN O. (@saviolagodwyn) December 13, 2019
Another popular Twitter user identified as Henry Shied claimed that companies like Peace Mass Transit should never be allowed to transport human beings along Nigerian roads. Apparently, Mr Shield already has a pending court case against the company which he filed after a previous incident which he refused to elaborate on; for now.
https://twitter.com/henryshield/status/1205209801963245569
On the other hand, there are those who believed that this is nothing but a smear campaign against Peace Mass Transit. As Ceejay argued, there is no transport company that does not have to deal with accidents every now and then.
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I believe this peace mass transit thread is highly sponsored by their competitors……there is no transport company without accident record
— KING CEEJAY 👑 (@ObiakorCJ) December 13, 2019
A bad timing: Agreed, this was an accident and the truth is that it was horrible. It is especially so, bearing in mind that this is the festive season when millions of Nigerians travel a lot. If care of not taken, travellers may start avoiding the affected companies and this will not augur well for them business-wise.
Truly, PMT should be ban from our roads. They don’t instruct their drivers about speed limit, their drivers don’t have manner, their drive recklessly, they don’t train them. They are only concerned about putting vehicles on The raod and make profit. The last time I burd them from Akure to Abuja, I was just praying that I should reach my destination safely. It was hell.