- The accident happened on Sunday afternoon in the Mmuri axis of Ohafia Local Government Area of the State
A fatal road accident in Nigeria’s South East state of Abia has claimed the lives of at least six persons.
The accident happened on Sunday afternoon in the Mmuri axis of Ohafia Local Government Area of the State.
The tragic incident was said to have happened after a heavy-duty trailer filled with chipping overturned and trapped several people beneath its crushing weight.
According to eyewitness, many of the victims cried out for help as they writhed in unbearable agony, rescue efforts were insufficient to save their lives.
The President General of the Ebem Ohafia Development Union, where the bridge is located, Emeka Mba, confirmed the incident.
Mba, who described the day as a “black Sunday”, stated that rescuers don’t have the equipment needed to rescue the victims, adding that the government is not doing enough to help.
Mba stated, “Well, today should be regarded as a black Sunday because of the killings. As I speak to you, many people are still trapped under the truck.
“I learned that one of the survivors is a lady with her two children sitting in front of the bus. But several others are still under the vehicle, and it’s a very helpless situation,” he said.
Mba lamented the lack of emergency response equipment to move the heavy-duty truck. “We have tried everything. We could not get any equipment to lift the truck and rescue the people underneath. It’s a very ugly situation,” he explained.
On the condition of the road, Chief Mba highlighted the poor state of the area and blamed the tragedy on government negligence, stating, “That section of the road is very low, and we’ve done a lot of press statements and documentation to draw the government’s attention to it. This is a small road and heavy-duty trucks should be restricted until proper measures are put in place.”
Confirming the incident on Monday, the Abia State Road Traffic and Safety Management Agency in a statement by its spokesman, Nelson Anya, confirmed the accident in a statement on Monday.
Anya said the accident occurred on Sunday when a trailer loaded with chippings collided with a Sienna bus carrying nine passengers.
He added that one of the passengers sustained injury.
“ARTSMA officials, led by the General Manager, Col. Ezichi Kalu (retd.), promptly responded to the distress call and arrived at the scene to provide critical intervention.
“The team mobilized resources, including a crane and two towing vans, to rescue victims and manage the situation.
“Regrettably, six individuals lost their lives on the spot, one passenger sustained severe injuries, while two others suffered varying degrees of injuries,” he said.