Enugu State Commissioner for Capital Development Authority, Hon. Chidi Aroh, has described unfortunate death of two sisters – Ebubechi Ozumba, 8, and Onyinyechi Ozumba, 5, as an accident that occurred at the popular Oakland Amusement Park in the state.
The deceased, whose parents are currently in South Africa were native of Anambra State.
They had joined other children last weekend at the park fun fare before they was confronted by the incident.
Daily Sun noted that two of them died, five other kids who were involved in the accident, are currently receiving treatment at the Niger Foundation Hospital.
Commissioner, on Friday visited the injured children in the hospital also expressed happiness over their response to treatment.
While describing the incident as unfortunate, Aroh expressed concern that it happened at one of the most resourceful recreation centres in Enugu.
He said that the facility had to be sealed considering the number of children that visit the park on a daily basis, noting that his committee had to visit the facility and all those injured as well, commiserate with the family that lost its children as directed by the governor.
According to source, the deceased were brought to Nigeria about a year ago to get acclimatized while their parents stayed back in South Africa.
Although the cause of the accident has not been investigate, the owner of the park, Sir Odega Jideonwu told government team headed by the Commissioner to set up investigation over the accident that occurred.
Jideunwu said, “We had two casualties and five other children who sustained injuries right now, we cannot say exactly, what caused the accident.”
“We have been operating the place for about four years and we had to undergo a lot of training and certification to have that park. We have trained first aid experts and he was on hand to apply first aid but the injuries were so serious that we had to immediately evacuate the children to the hospital and that was done.”
“I know what it means to be a father and I know what it takes to lose a child. It’s an extremely painful thing. I have been very disturbed.”
“The entire management and staff of Oakland have been very disturbed. My children are disturbed, these are children of about the same age, and they are disturbed because it gets back to them.
“They were once in the same school with these children so it’s been a very tough time,” he maintained. He also dissociated himself from earlier media reports on the incident insisting that the company has not made an official statement on the tragedy.
