Six persons have died and 14 others were injured in a
fatal crash along the Abakaliki–Enugu Expressway in Ebonyi State.
The accident, which occurred near the Nkalagu overhead
bridge in Ishielu Local Government Area, involved a tipper truck and a
commercial bus carrying passengers.
Confirming the incident, the Sector Commander of the
Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Ebonyi State, Anthony Ogbodo, said 22
people were involved in the crash, while two escaped unhurt.
He attributed the cause of the accident to dangerous
overtaking on the busy route.
Ogbodo said the victims were immediately evacuated to
nearby hospitals for treatment.
“Some of the injured victims were taken to
Annunciation and Orthopaedic Hospitals in Enugu by our officers and the Red
Cross, while others were taken to the General Hospital, Ezzamgbo, in Ebonyi
State,” he said.
A resident of Nkalagu, who spoke on condition of
anonymity, described the Enugu–Nkalagu Expressway as one of the most dangerous
routes in the area, blaming its design and poor construction for frequent
accidents.
“The road is very dangerous because of its one-way
nature and the hard concrete central demarcation, which doesn’t allow vehicles
to manoeuvre or dodge reckless drivers,” the resident said.
The source recalled that since 2019, when former
Governor David Umahi began the dualisation of the Enugu–Abakaliki Expressway
with a flyover at the Nkalagu junction, a one-kilometre stretch from the
Enugu–Nkalagu boundary to the junction has remained incomplete and blocked.
“The central demarcation worsens the situation,
leaving vehicles with no option during emergencies. Hardly a month passes
without an accident on this road,” the resident added.
He called on both the federal and state governments to
speed up work on the project to prevent further tragedies. Residents
living along the expressway reportedly struggle to access their homes due to
the blockade.
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