A road accident along the Nteje-Awka road, near the New Terminal at Ukpo Junction in Dunukofia Local Government Area of Anambra State, has claimed eight lives and left six others injured.
At about 9 p.m. on Sunday, a Toyota Hiace bus with registration number EKP375XM crashed into a Mack tanker that was not registered.
According to eyewitnesses at the scene, the bus, traveling from Abakaliki to Onitsha, was speeding when it overtook the tanker, which was heading towards Awka on a single-lane road, and collided with it.
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The source said, “The crash resulted in eight fatalities — four males and four females — six persons comprising two males and four females sustained various injuries while two died on the spot.”
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Margaret Onabe, the Sector Public Education Officer for the Federal Road Safety Corps’ Anambra Sector Command, confirmed the occurrence in a statement on Monday.
Onabe further mentioned that the rescue team from RS5.33 Nteje responded to the scene, providing medical assistance to the injured victims and transporting them to the hospital for treatment, while the bodies of the deceased were taken to Jerusalem Mortuary in Nteje.
She blamed the crash on speeding.
She said, “The Federal Road Safety Corps Anambra Sector Command regrets to announce a fatal crash on April 27, at approximately 9 pm along the Nteje-Awka route, near the New Terminal close to Ukpo Junction.
“According to eyewitness accounts and preliminary investigations, a Mack tanker without a registration number collided with a Toyota Hiace bus, registered as EKP375XM.
“The bus, which was travelling from Abakaliki to Onitsha, was speeding and overtook dangerously before colliding with the tanker, which was heading towards Awka on a single carriageway. The crash resulted in eight fatalities—four males and four females—and injured six others, comprising two males and four females.”
She relayed the command’s advice to drivers, urging them to prioritize their own safety and that of others by driving at a safe speed and ensuring the road was clear before overtaking.
“The FRSC Anambra Sector Command extends its condolences to the families of the victims and wishes a speedy recovery to those injured. The Sector Commander, Corps Commander Joyce Nnennaya Alexander, has urged drivers to prioritise their safety and that of others by maintaining a safe speed and ensuring that the road is clear before overtaking to prevent such tragic incidents.
“Drivers must ensure they drive at a minimum safe speed and only overtake when the road is clear,” emphasized the Sector Commander.
“The rescue team from RS5.33 Nteje attended to the injured victims, transporting them to the hospital for treatment, while the deceased were taken to Jerusalem Mortuary Nteje after confirmation by a doctor.”
She assured that the command would persist in its efforts to raise road safety awareness, enforce traffic laws, and work with relevant stakeholders to ensure a safer road environment for everyone.
“She (the Corps Commander) also visited the surviving victims at Regina Caeli Hospital and Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu Teaching Hospital to assess their condition and offer support.
“The Sector Commander’s proactive approach underscores the FRSC Anambra Sector Command’s dedication to preventing road crashes and ensuring the safety of all road users. By engaging with stakeholders like NUPENG and monitoring the aftermath of the crash, the Command aims to identify areas for improvement and implement measures to reduce the risk of future accidents.”
