The First Lady, Patience Jonathan, on Sunday commiserated with the Bayelsa Government over the death of some prominent women leaders from the state in an auto crash.

A statement by her Media Assistant, Ayo Adewuyi, in Abuja said the women died in a motor accident around Elele in Rivers on Saturday.

“The First Lady prays the Almighty God to grant the souls of the deceased eternal rest.

“She also prayed God to give the families the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss,” the statement said.

PREMIUM TIMES had reported the accident which occurred on Saturday evening.

The Bayelsa Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) Vincent Jack explained that nine persons were burnt to death, two deid without burns, while many others who sustained injuries were rushed to Madonna clinic in the area.

According to him, the accident occurred when the tyres of a Toyota Sienna burst and rammed into the bus carrying the women. The bus, which had the inscription of Women For Change, an organisation sponsored by the First Lady, subsequently went up in flames.

A former councillor in Ogbia Local Government Area, Gbaregolo Eseimokumo, listed some of the victims as Consider Amadi, a former women leader in Ogbia; Clara Abila, a grassroots politician; Immaculate Amasimua, former Commissioner at the Civil Service Commission in Bayelsa and Elisabeth Oguru, wife of the Secretary to the State Government.

Others are Zimbra Goma, former Commissioner for Women Affairs; Ruby Benjamin, former House of Assembly member representing Brass Constituency 1 in Bayelsa; amongst others.

A security official said all the women in the bus, but one was killed. The survivor is receiving medical attention.

The women were said to have paid a two-day solidarity visit to the first lady in Okirika, Rivers State.

(NAN)