The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Anambra sector command has reported a devastating accident at the Ukpo Junction on the Nteje-Awka Road on Sunday night, resulting in eight fatalities.
Sector commander Joyce Alexander confirmed the incident on Monday in Awka, the Anambra state capital. She stated that the crash involved a Mack tanker, which had no registration number, and a Toyota Hiace bus bearing registration number EKP375XM.
According to Ms Alexander, the accident was attributed to excessive speed and wrongful overtaking, leading to a head-on collision.
“A witness account and preliminary investigations showed that the bus was travelling from Abakaliki to Onitsha. The bus was speeding and overtook dangerously before colliding with the tanker, which was heading towards Awka on a single carriageway,” she explained.
The tragic crash resulted in the deaths of eight individuals—four males and four females—while six others, comprising two males and four females, sustained injuries.
The rescue team from Nteje promptly attended to the injured victims, transporting them to the hospital for treatment. The bodies of the deceased were taken to Jerusalem Mortuary in Nteje after being confirmed by a doctor.
Ms Alexander visited the surviving victims at Regina Caeli Hospital and Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu Teaching Hospital in Awka to assess their conditions and provide support. She also expressed her condolences to the families of the deceased and wished a speedy recovery to the injured.
Furthermore, Ms Alexander met with the chief of the task force from the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers to discuss potential improvements and implement measures aimed at reducing the risk of future accidents.
She urged drivers to prioritise their safety and that of others by maintaining a safe speed.
