Ebonyi lone crash leaves five dead, twelve injured

The Federal Road Safety Corps has confirmed the death of a female child and four male passengers in a lone road accident in Ebonyi on Friday.

The Sector Commander of the FRSC in Ebonyi, Daniel Asanya, told the News Agency of Nigeria in Abakaliki that the accident occurred at the Nkalagu axis of the Enugu–Abakaliki Federal Highway.

Asanya said that the affected vehicle was en route to Enugu from Abakaliki and crashed at Edema Bridge, Nkalagu, in Ishielu Local Government Area (LGA) of Ebonyi State.

“The commercial bus, a white-coloured Toyota Hiace bus with Registration Number: RSH 231 XE, had 17 passengers on board.

“The passengers consisted of 12 males, four females, and one female child.

“Five persons died in the crash: four males and one female child, while 12 persons were injured: eight males and four females,” he said.

He noted that the crash was caused by speed violation, adding that items recovered from the crash scene included three phones, two personal effects in sack bags, and a quarter bag of rice.

“The injured were taken to Annunciation Hospital, Emene, Enugu, for treatment, while the dead have been deposited in the morgue.

“We advise drivers to always drive with caution, especially with construction and maintenance work on the Enugu–Abakaliki Highway.

“Drivers should also realise that roads will always be maintained, and this is for the public good,” he said.

Asanya also advised the construction firm handling work on the road to place “illuminating signs” on the road to alert motorists to ongoing works.

(NAN)