Four of them were reportedly confirmed dead at the scene while three others died at the hospital where the victims were rushed to.
The identities and pictures of seven Catholic seminarians who died in an auto crash at Obudu cattle ranch in Cross River State have been released.
The seminarians from the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin but under the ecclesiastical jurisdiction of Enugu Catholic Diocese reportedly died on Saturday when their vehicle had a brake failure resulting in the fatal accident that claimed lives of seven out of 13 persons in the vehicle.
Four of them were reportedly confirmed dead at the scene while three others died at the hospital where the victims were rushed to.
The seminarians, guided by a priest, were said to be returning home from a tour of the Ranch Resort when their bus crashed at the bottom hill Ikwette community in Obudu.
The deceased were identified as Br. Somadina Ibe-Ojuludu; Br. Chinedu Nwachukwu; Br. Marcel Ezenwafor; Br. Gerald Nwogueze; Br. Kingsley Nwosu; Br. Wilfred Aleke; and Br. Chukwudi Obueze.
The Cross River State government, reacting to the incident, said emergency services from the Ranch Resort and the Nigerian Army rushed to the scene.
The State Governor, Bassey Otu, in a statement issued through his Chief Press Secretary, Nsa Gill, has expressed his condolences.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of the victims during this incredibly difficult time,” Otu said.
The governor said the state government is contacting the families to offer assistance.
Otu also said the government would review safety measures at the Ranch Resort. “Safety is of utmost priority in the Ranch Resort and beyond,” he said, urging visitors to ensure their vehicles are roadworthy and to follow all safety guidelines.
“We will continue to provide updates as more information becomes available. In the meantime, we ask for respect for the privacy of the victims’ families as they navigate this painful time,” the governor promised.
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