Several feared dead as bus, truck collide near Ebonyi University
Tragedy occurred in the early Hours of Saturday involving a two vehicle accident which claimed several lives and left many others injured in front of the Ebonyi State University Permanent Site Campus, along the busy Abakaliki–Enugu highway.
The fatal collision involved a commercial bus conveying passengers from Benue State to Onitsha and a 911 truck loaded with sachet water en route from Enugu to Abakaliki.
According to eyewitness accounts, the accident occurred around the Ishieke axis, a location that has become notorious for frequent crashes.
Residents and survivors alleged that officers at the Ishieke Police checkpoint had partially blocked the road overnight, creating dangerous driving conditions that contributed to the crash. The bus reportedly rammed into the truck, resulting in multiple fatalities on the spot, while several victims sustained life-threatening injuries.
Eyewitnesses who rushed to the scene described it as horrific, with shattered glass, scattered goods, and trapped passengers crying for help before emergency responders arrived. Some victims were immediately taken to nearby hospitals, while others were confirmed dead at the scene.
This tragedy could have been avoided if the police had not turned the highway into a death trap,” one eyewitness lamented, accusing the officers of negligence in their traffic management practices.
The Ishieke checkpoint has long been criticized by motorists and residents for unsafe practices, with many accidents previously reported in the area. Today’s incident has renewed calls for authorities to urgently review checkpoint operations and implement stricter traffic management measures.
Families of the victims are now mourning their loved ones, while survivors battle for their lives in hospitals across Abakaliki. The Ebonyi State Police Command is yet to issue an official statement at the time of filing this report.
(Daily Sun)
