At least nine persons lost their lives in a road accident along the Abakaliki-Enugu highway early Friday, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports. The accident occurred along Ezzangbo portion of the Abakaliki-Enugu highway and involved a Toyota Sienna bus and a truck with registration number HKW 436 XA. Charles Abuochi, the sector commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Ebonyi, confirmed the story in an interview with NAN. He, however, said that the details of the auto crash were still sketchy. ‘’There is an accident that happened along the Ezzangbo portion of the Abakaliki-Enugu Federal highway. ‘’Our men are still at the scene of the crash to ensure free flow of traffic.
“Preliminary report confirmed that nine persons died on the spot while one person sustained injuries and had been rushed to the Federal Teaching Hospital Abakaliki. ‘’Corpses of deceased victims have been deposited at the mortuary,” he said. According to him, the victims were political party supporters travelling to Enugu to observe the Appeal Court ruling on the Ebonyi Governorship Election Petition Tribunal. He said the driver of the Sienna bus was moving on top speed when he lost control, skidded off his lane and crashed into the truck coming from the opposite direction. Mr. Abuochi expressed regret over the loss of many lives in the accident.
He said the FRSC was ready to make Christmas and New Year celebrations accident-free and warned motorists and other road users to obey road traffic laws. ‘’We sympathise with the families of the deceased but I want to assure the general public that the FRSC is ready and prepared to ensure accident-free Yuletide. “We wish to advise that motorists and other road users should comply with safety standards to prevent the loss of lives and property of the passengers.‘’Our men have been fully mobilised and deployed to several accident flashpoints for proper surveillance,’’ he said.
(NAN)