A severe road accident on the Abakaliki-Enugu Expressway resulted in three deaths and two injuries on Thursday. The incident took place at the Ezillo Bridge in the Ishielu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State. A Toyota Sienna, a Toyota RAV4, and two commercial buses were involved in the multi-vehicle collision, which caused the Sienna to fall into a river.
Witnesses reported that the Sienna was traveling from Abakaliki toward Enugu when the crash occurred. According to bystanders, the narrow state of the current bridge created dangerous conditions for motorists. Local officials and observers expressed frustration regarding the ongoing construction delays for a secondary bridge meant to ease traffic congestion in the area.
Daniel Nnamdi Asanya, the Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Ebonyi, attributed the tragedy to unsafe overtaking. He explained that one driver plunged into the water while attempting to steer clear of a head-on collision. Out of the seven people involved in the incident, three perished, two were hospitalized, and two remained physically unharmed.
SP Joshua Ukandu of the Ebonyi State Police Command acknowledged the accident but stated that full particulars would follow. Meanwhile, the FRSC has issued a fresh call for motorists to prioritize caution, maintain safe speeds, and comply with traffic regulations to prevent further loss of life on Nigerian roadways.
