Ike Nnachi, Abakaliki
Tragedy struck on Friday morning near the Nkalagu Flyover along the Nkalagu–Enugu Highway when a commercial bus collided head-on with a tipper truck, leaving six persons dead and 14 others with varying degrees of injuries.
The Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Ebonyi State, Anthony Ogbodo, confirmed the incident.
He said a report from the Nkalagu Unit Command indicated that the crash, which occurred at about 9:40 a.m., was caused by dangerous overtaking on the busy route.
“The patrol team received the distress call at 9:45 a.m. and arrived at the scene within five minutes, preventing further casualties,” he said.
Mr. Ogbodo explained that the accident involved a white Toyota Hiace bus with registration number AGU 307 XA and a Mercedes-Benz 911 tipper truck registered as JRV 872 XA.
He noted that both vehicles were on commercial duty when the tragic collision occurred on the paved section of the road close to the flyover.
“A total of 22 persons were involved in the crash — 10 females and 12 males. Of these, six persons — three men and three women — lost their lives on the spot, while 14 others (nine men and five women) sustained serious injuries. Two male occupants escaped unhurt,” he said.
Mr. Ogbodo added that FRSC personnel, in collaboration with the Red Cross, swiftly evacuated the injured victims.
He said those with critical injuries were rushed to Annunciation Hospital and the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Enugu, while others received treatment at Ezzamgbo General Hospital, Ebonyi State.
The Sector Commander confirmed that the road obstruction caused by the wreckage was promptly cleared to restore the free flow of traffic.
“Items recovered from the scene included two small Itel handsets, a tipper vehicle key, and ₦2,000 in cash,” he said.
Mr. Ogbodo again cautioned motorists to avoid dangerous overtaking and adhere strictly to speed limits, especially along the ever-busy Nkalagu–Enugu corridor, to prevent avoidable loss of lives.
“This unfortunate incident is a stark reminder that reckless overtaking and impatience on the road remain deadly habits. Drivers must value human life over speed or time,” he warned.
Meanwhile, public outcry has followed the tragic crash, with residents urging urgent government intervention on the Enugu–Abakaliki Expressway, particularly around the Nkalagu axis.
One concerned citizen, Odinaka Emmanuel Eze, in an open message addressed to Governor Francis Nwifuru and Minister of Works David Nweze Umahi, pleaded for the removal of the concrete central pavements lining sections of the expressway.
He attributed the accident to the concrete pavement, which he alleged made it impossible for the bus to avoid the oncoming tipper.
“Dear Gov. Nwifuru Francis and Minister David Nweze Umahi, please, Your Excellencies, the Enugu–Abakaliki Expressway by the Nkalagu axis has taken enough lives,” Eze wrote.
“For many years now, the road has been difficult to complete. Help us remove the heavy concrete central pavements that make it impossible for motorists to veer off the road to avert head-on collisions in the event of an emergency.
“Many eyewitnesses who were behind the truck that collided with the Entraco bus at Nkalagu confirmed that without the hard demarcation, the bus driver would have avoided the truck, which was trying to dodge a deep gully in the only open lane.”
He lamented the increasing number of deaths on the highway, noting that ordinary road users lack the protection enjoyed by government convoys.
“The deaths are becoming too many, and we all ply the same route. Your security convoys can control traffic, but the common people have no such privilege to protect them from reckless drivers,” he said.
Eze’s emotional plea has resonated with many road users who have long decried the dangerous condition of the Nkalagu–Enugu stretch.
Residents and transporters are now calling on both the Ebonyi State Government and the Federal Ministry of Works to urgently address the recurring hazards along the highway to prevent further loss of lives.
