A total of 16 persons have been confirmed dead in a lone fatal car accident that occurred on the Ekwegbe road along the Enugu/Opi/Nsukka road in Enugu State.
According to a statement by the Police Public Relations Officer, Enugu State Command, State Headquarters, DSP Daniel Ndukwe on Tuesday, the accident happened at around 5:20 p.m.
While giving an explainer, Ndukwe said that the victims included 14 males, and two females, who were burnt beyond recognition.
DSP Ndukwe further said that the accident involving an 18-seater white-coloured Toyota Hummer bus with a Bauchi State commercial registration number of DAS 215 XA and the inscription “Masha Allah”, had lost control and crashed into the fence of Maduka University along the road while being driven at a high speed.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the vehicle had burst into flames upon impact, burning beyond recognition, the 16 passengers who were confirmed dead on arrival at the hospital.
Fortunately, two other passengers were rescued alive, and taken to the hospital for urgent medical attention by police officers, soldiers and public-spirited citizens who had been at the scene of the accident.
A statement released after the incident read;
“A preliminary investigation reveals that the vehicle, laden with edible vegetables, other food items, and the luggage of the passengers, was heading towards Nsukka from the Enugu axis of the road. However, the actual point of take-off and final destination of the vehicle has not been ascertained. Nonetheless, the items have been recovered by the Igbo-Etiti Police Division.”
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, CP Kanayo Uzuegbu, together with the some officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps, had visited the scene to assess the situation, and had commiserated with the yet-to-be-traced family members, friends, and associates of the deceased.
Furthermore, the CP called on individuals to assist in identifying the dead victims or with information to trace the family members of the deceased, to come forward with such information.
Alternatively, the general public was encouraged to call 08098880172 or 08086671202, or send emails to infoenugupolice@gmail.com.
