A tragic road accident claimed the lives of eight individuals and left six others injured on Sunday night along the Nteje-Awka road near the New Terminal at Ukpo Junction in Dunukofia Local Government Area, Anambra State.
The incident occurred around 9 p.m. and involved a Toyota Hiace bus, with registration number EKP375XM, and a Mack tanker with no visible plate number. According to eyewitnesses, the bus, en route from Abakaliki to Onitsha, was speeding and attempted a dangerous overtaking maneuver when it collided head-on with the oncoming tanker traveling toward Awka on a single-lane road.
Reports indicate that four men and four women died as a result of the collision. Six other passengers—two men and four women—sustained varying degrees of injuries, with two fatalities confirmed at the scene.
Margaret Onabe, the Public Education Officer for the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Anambra State, confirmed the incident in a statement issued Monday. She noted that personnel from Unit RS5.33 Nteje responded swiftly, providing assistance to the injured and transporting them to medical facilities for treatment. The deceased were taken to Jerusalem Mortuary in Nteje.
Preliminary investigations pointed to speeding as the main cause of the crash. “This unfortunate event occurred due to excessive speed and reckless overtaking,” Onabe stated.
The FRSC expressed condolences to the victims’ families and urged motorists to drive responsibly. Corps Commander Joyce Nnennaya Alexander emphasized the importance of maintaining safe speeds and only overtaking when the road is visibly clear.
In addition to coordinating rescue efforts, the Sector Commander also visited the injured at Regina Caeli Hospital and Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu Teaching Hospital to assess their conditions and offer support.
The FRSC reaffirmed its commitment to promoting road safety through education, enforcement, and partnerships with organizations such as the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG). The agency aims to identify key safety concerns and implement strategies to prevent similar incidents in the future.
