A group of journalists, including Nigerians, narrowly escaped a fatal bus accident while covering the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON, in Ivory Coast.
The harrowing incident took place near Abidjan early on Wednesday, as the bus, carrying over 30 journalists returning from Yamoussoukro, where they covered the final group stage matches, veered off the road just moments before reaching the AFCON Main Media Centre in Abidjan around 4:30 am East Africa Time.
The collision with concrete barriers left the media fraternity shaken but grateful.
Displaying a survival instinct akin to their professional tenacity, journalists desperately leaped out through windows to safety, resulting in injuries ranging from minor fractures and cuts to more serious conditions.
Seun Oyejidi, a Nigerian journalist, shared the intense experience in a poignant social media post.
“Thank God for life. Saved from an auto accident with a convoy of journalists returning from Yamussoukro to Abidjan, Cote D’Ivoire after covering Senegal vs Guinea match. The sweat and pain behind the work of a journalist.” he tweeted.
Emergency responders were on the scene promptly, rushing the injured to the University Centre Hospital in Treichville and another facility in Abidjan.
CAF officials and volunteer doctors were present at the hospitals, providing support and assessing the situation.
A statement from the Local Organising Committee (COCAN) captured the gravity of the incident: “We regret to inform you that the convoy of journalists covering AFCON 2023 was involved in a tragic bus accident during the return from Yamoussoukro to Abidjan around 2 a.m. Fortunately, most of those on board suffered minor injuries.”
“The injured were urgently transported to the University Hospital Center (CHU) in Treichville to receive the necessary care. We are in close contact with the medical authorities to ensure appropriate monitoring of their state of health,” the statement added.
