Tragedy struck on Tuesday along the Owerri/Onitsha expressway in Imo State when a gas tanker truck collided with a commuter bus, killing 12 people, including four children, and leaving at least eight others injured.
The Imo State Police Command confirmed the tragic accident in a statement by its spokesman, Henry Okoye, who explained that the gas tanker, bearing registration number T 16716 LA and marked with the NUPENG inscription, was driving against traffic when it rammed into the bus.
According to Okoye, the commuter bus was conveying members of the Jehovah’s Witness Church from Anambra State to Agwa village in Imo State for a church programme.
“Eight adults and four children died in the accident, while eight others sustained varying degrees of injuries. The deceased have been taken to Ogbaku Mortuary, while the injured are receiving treatment at Divine Hospital, Awo-Omamma,” Okoye said.
Okoye added that the police, in collaboration with the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and other emergency responders, had since cleared the wreckage and restored traffic flow on the busy expressway.
He further disclosed that an investigation has been launched to determine the circumstances that led to the tanker driver’s dangerous manoeuvre against traffic.
According to Daily Trust, residents said the accident caused chaos and grief as relatives of the victims rushed to the scene. Witnesses described the collision as horrific, with some victims trapped in the wreckage before emergency teams arrived.
Naija News reports that the Owerri/Onitsha expressway has witnessed a string of fatal accidents in recent years, often blamed on reckless driving, poor road discipline, and heavy-duty trucks operating without strict checks.
Safety advocates have renewed calls for stricter enforcement of traffic laws and better monitoring of articulated vehicles to prevent avoidable tragedies.
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