By Peter Onyekachukwu 
By Peter Onyekachukwu, Asaba
Panic gripped commuters and pedestrians on Summit Road in Asaba on Wednesday after a vehicle operated by the Delta State Traffic Management Authority (DESTMA) was involved in a crash that nearly claimed the lives of a nursing mother, her baby, and three others.
Eyewitnesses said the incident occurred when DESTMA operatives attempted to intercept a mini truck they accused of flouting traffic rules. In a hasty move to block the vehicle, the officials’ Hilux truck veered abruptly and collided with a Toyota Corolla. The impact caused the mini truck to rear-end the Corolla, which had suddenly stopped as a result of the collision.
“The force of the hit was too much. The Corolla was crushed in the middle. A woman and her baby were inside the passenger seat. It was by God’s grace that they came out alive,” said an onlooker, Sunday Mudiaga, who joined others in rescuing the victims.
The woman behind the wheel of the Corolla, who appeared to be in her fifties, was visibly distressed. “They didn’t even flag me down. I was just on my way when their Hilux bashed into me from nowhere. The driver tried to drive off like nothing happened,” she said.
The mini truck occupants were also momentarily trapped in their vehicle, and rescuers had to force the door open to free them.
One of the DESTMA officials at the scene admitted they had been targeting a red Corolla and a mini truck believed to have violated traffic regulations. However, he disclosed that his colleague mistakenly went after a different vehicle. “It was a mix-up. The ash-coloured Corolla wasn’t the target,” he said.
The DESTMA driver, however, could not offer a clear explanation as to why he rammed into the wrong vehicle.
When contacted, the Director General of DESTMA, Benjamin Okiemute, initially dismissed the report but later issued veiled threats against the journalist after being presented with details.
“Be careful the way you write your stories,” Okiemute warned. “If you go ahead and publish nonsense, you’ll meet me in court. I don’t take such things lightly. Ask around about me.”
The incident has reignited concerns over the aggressive tactics often employed by DESTMA operatives in the state capital, raising calls for better training and accountability within the agency.
Reacting to the scene, Sunday Mudiaga added, “These officials are becoming lawless. They don’t think about safety anymore. It’s just about who they can extort. If that baby had died today, what would we be saying?”
Residents are urging the Delta State government to investigate the matter thoroughly and review the conduct of traffic officials before another tragedy occurs.