Ike Nnachi, Abakaliki
A fatal accident at Nwanwu Junction, Igbeagu, along the Enugu–Abakaliki–Ogoja highway, has claimed three lives.
The incident, which occurred around 11:20 a.m. on Wednesday, also destroyed shops and properties in the area.
According to eyewitnesses, the crash was caused by a cement mixer truck that reportedly lost its brakes while descending from Nwezenyi. In an attempt to avoid colliding with a motorcycle rider emerging from Offia Oku Amachi Road, the truck veered off course and rammed into nearby shops.
Among the worst hit were a local drinking joint and two makeshift food stalls, all of which were completely destroyed. The impact left several victims sprawled on the ground, with emergency responders and bystanders rushing some to nearby hospitals for urgent treatment.
“It was a horrific scene,” one witness recounted.
“Victims were lying unconscious and properties were reduced to rubble. The community is in mourning. We can only pray no more deaths are recorded.”
Residents have since called on authorities to enforce stricter traffic safety measures, especially on accident-prone routes in the state.
Confirming the incident, the Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Ebonyi, Anthony Ogbodo, said: “The unit commander at Igbeagu and his officers got the information and rushed to the scene immediately. The crash happened around 11:20 hours along the Ogoja–Abakaliki trunk A road. It involved a Mercedes-Benz cement mixer which rammed into people at a local drinking joint, killing three instantly.”
He added that the corpses of the deceased were deposited at St. Vincent Hospital in Ndubia.
