Enugu State was thrown into mourning on Wednesday after two ghastly road accidents claimed the lives of 10 people and left several others battling for survival along the ever-busy Enugu–Port Harcourt Expressway.
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Enugu State Command, confirmed the tragic incidents, which occurred hours apart, between the Police Estate and Toll Gate axis of Ozalla.
Addressing journalists in Enugu on Thursday, the State Sector Commander, Mr. Franklin Agbakoba, described the crashes as “avoidable carnage” caused by reckless driving and traffic violations.
According to him, the first accident, which occurred around 9:30 a.m., involved a trailer, two buses, and a private car. The collision instantly claimed the lives of several passengers, with others sustaining varying degrees of injuries.
Barely six hours later, at about 3:45 p.m., another devastating crash struck the same axis, this time involving two heavy-duty trailers and a tricycle.
“In total, 40 persons were caught up in the two crashes. Nine of them died on the spot, while one other victim who was rushed to the hospital later gave up the ghost at night,” Agbakoba revealed.
He further explained that the first crash recorded 22 males, 11 females, and a child among the victims, while the second crash involved six adult males. Eleven persons sustained injuries—ten from the first crash and one from the second.
Agbakoba attributed both accidents to motorists driving against traffic, a notorious violation on the Enugu–Port Harcourt Expressway despite repeated warnings and enforcement campaigns.
“The major cause of these two accidents is basic Road Traffic Violation (RTV). The motorists involved deliberately drove against traffic. This dangerous practice has turned that axis into a death trap,” the FRSC boss lamented.
He stressed that the Ozalla Unit Command has intensified road safety education and enforcement, but urged motorists to exercise discipline and obey traffic rules to avoid further loss of lives.
The back-to-back tragedies have sparked fresh calls for stricter monitoring and enforcement along Nigerian highways notorious for reckless driving.
PIONEER NEWS 