No fewer than nine persons said to be supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party on Friday lost their lives in an auto crash along the Otukpo-Oweto highway in Benue State.
Five other persons were said to have sustained injuries in the crash.
It was learnt that the deceased were on their way to a rally to open the campaign of the party’s senatorial candidate for Benue South, Abba Moro, when the incident occurred.
They were said to be traveling from the Oju Local Government Area of the state.
It was learnt that tragedy struck when their vehicle had a head-on collision with another vehicle in Ojinebe village.
The State Publicity Secretary of the party, Bemgba Iortyom, confirmed the development.
It was further learnt that while six persons died on the spot, two others later died in a hospital.
The remains of some of the victims were said to have been deposited at the General Hospital in Otukpo.
Governor Samuel Ortom, who visited the hospital in Adoka where the injured were receiving treatment, described the incident as unfortunate.
Ortom, who was accompanied by a former Senate President, Senator David Mark, and the Deputy Governor, Benson Abounu, announced the indefinite postponement of the campaign.
He also directed that the survivors should be transferred to the Benue State University Teaching Hospital for further treatment.
Earlier, Moro commiserated with families of the victims, adding that the rally was put off after consultations with the leaders of the party in the state.
