From Jude Chinedu, Enugu
A horrific accident on Tuesday evening in Enugu State claimed the lives of 16 travellers, leaving two others with serious injuries.
The incident occurred along the Enugu/Opi/Nsukka Road, with the bus carrying 18 passengers crashing into the fence of Maduka University in Ekwegbe, Igbo-Etiti Local Government Area. The bus, driven at high speed, lost control and burst into flames, trapping the passengers inside.
Only two passengers managed to escape the inferno and were rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment. The remaining 16 passengers, unfortunately, were burnt beyond recognition.
The Enugu State Police Command confirmed the incident and identified the bus as a white-coloured Toyota Hummer with a Bauchi State commercial registration number DAS 215 XA. The bus was loaded with edible vegetables, other food items, and the passengers’ luggage.
Police spokesperson Daniel Ndukwe stated that the Commissioner of Police, Kanayo Uzuegbu, along with officials from the Federal Road Safety Corps, visited the scene to assess the situation.
The statement from the Police Command reads: “The Enugu State Police Command wishes to inform the public that a lone fatal motor accident occurred today, April 30, 2024, around 5:20 p.m., at Ekwegbe, along Enugu/Opi/Nsukka Road, claiming the lives of yet-to-be identified fourteen males (14) and two (2) females who burned beyond recognition.”
The statement further explains that the investigation is ongoing to determine the exact point of take-off and final destination of the vehicle. The recovered items from the bus are currently in the custody of the Igbo-Etiti Police Division.
Commissioner Uzuegbu expressed his condolences to the families and friends of the deceased, urging anyone with information to assist in identifying the victims or tracing their families to contact the police.