Police Confirm 10 Dead, 10 Injured In Enugu Road Crashes
Ten people have been confirmed dead and another ten injured in two separate accidents that occurred on the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway on Wednesday.
Spokesman of the Enugu Police Command, SP Daniel Ndukwe, said the crashes happened along the Ozalla/Four-Corner axis of the highway.
He added that the injured victims were receiving treatment in different hospitals.
The first accident happened around 9 a.m. and involved a Howo truck loaded with cement, a Toyota Corolla, a Foton bus, and a Daihatsu Hijet mini-bus.
The truck reportedly collided with the Toyota Corolla while attempting to overtake another vehicle. Both the truck’s head and the car went up in flames, killing five people in the car and one passenger in the mini-bus.
The second crash occurred around 3 p.m. when a Sino truck, also laden with cement, drove against traffic and rammed into a tricycle. Four people in the tricycle were later confirmed dead.
Enugu State Commissioner of Police, Mamman Giwa, expressed sadness over the tragedies and sympathised with the bereaved families.
In a statement, he said, “This time, it involved a Sino truck belonging to Global Investment and a tricycle. The truck, laden with cement and driving one-way from Garriki Enugu to Nenwe in Aninri LGA, on the same Enugu inward-bound lane, rammed into the tricycle, leading to the death of its four occupants. They were rushed to the hospital but later confirmed dead.”
He directed the State Motor Traffic Department to carry out a thorough investigation into the causes of the accidents.
“These crashes are avoidable as drivers need to exercise utmost care, especially during these Ember Months, when road traffic usually increases and possibility of accidents increases too. No journey is worth the loss of lives,” he cautioned.
Ndukwe added that the commissioner urged motorists to shun recklessness, obey traffic rules, and prioritise safety over speed to prevent further tragedies.
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
