Penultimate Saturday, was a sad day as a truck conveying a container fell on a vehicle at Ojota, Lagos State, killing five people while three others were rescued.
Among those that died in the fatal accident was Pastor Charles Ezechila of the Redeemed Christian Church of God alongside his two children as the sad incident happened while they were on their way home from the church’s monthly Holy Ghost vigil.
The late pastor’s widow, Vivian in an interview with PUNCH shared how she found out about the accident among others.
Read the interview in part below;
Can you briefly introduce yourself?
I am 49 years old and hail from Abia State as well as my late husband. I am a trader in Lagos.
How did you hear about your husband’s death?
My pastor called me on Saturday, July 8, around 7am. He said, “Where are you, Sister Vivian?” I told him I was at home. He then asked me who among my children accompanied my husband to the Redemption Camp. I told him two of my children— Peculiar, 12, and Chibuike, 14. I asked him if all was well. He said yes. After the call, I was disturbed because anytime my husband went to the camp; he usually came back home around 5 or 6am. I had been calling his number but it was not going through.
What did you do after receiving the call?
I called my daughter that I was not comfortable with the questions our pastor asked me on the telephone. I asked her to call our church member in Ojota to know if my husband and two children were in Ojota. The fellow told us there was an accident at Ojota. We then asked who was involved. He said my husband, my two sons with some other church members — one old woman and our neighbour’s child
On hearing this, my daughter started crying. I tried to console her. We had just woken up from sleep. A family friend went to Ojota Bus Stop and saw the wreckage. We were told that a truck conveying a container fell on their bus. The fellow was there when they brought the crane to lift the container off the damaged bus my husband, our two children and others were travelling in.
Why didn’t you go with them to the camp?
Going to the camp is usually stressful so I prefer to stay at home. I don’t go there because I don’t have the strength.
What was your last discussion with him?
I called my husband around 11 or 12pm on Friday. He was at the camp. I told him that because of the Badoo killings in Ikorodu, he should not come home very early as he usually did. I asked him to stay around till 5 or 6am before leaving the camp. He asked me if there was any riot in any place. I said no. He said I should forget about the cult matter and not entertain any fear. He assured me that since he was coming from a church of God, there was nothing to worry about. I was told he left the camp around 3am. That was the last discussion I had with him.
Has the owner of the truck reached out to you?
The driver of the truck ran away but they apprehended his motor boy. They conveyed the container to a police station with the truck. The motor boy is still in police custody. My brother-in-law asked the policemen to provide the number plate of the truck and trace the owner since they refused to reach out to us. The police initially refused giving it out. They later gave him the information.
How many children do you have?
Four. Two died while two are still alive. The surviving ones are Victoria and Emmanuel, who is in the university.
Four. Two died while two are still alive. The surviving ones are Victoria and Emmanuel, who is in the university.
Have the authorities of the RCCG reached out to you?
Yes, they have. They came in large numbers, telling me not to be weary. They said he had finished his race. I asked them, “What about my two young children who died? Have they finished their race too just like that?”
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