Sixteen individuals tragically lost their lives on Tuesday when a Toyota Hummer Bus caught fire after crashing into a fence along Enugu/Opi/Nsukka Road in Ekwegbe, Igbo-Etiti Local Government Area of Enugu State.
According to Enugu State Police spokesperson Daniel Ndukwe, the accident occurred around 5:20 p.m. The victims, yet to be identified, included 14 males and two females. The bus, reportedly traveling at high speed, lost control and collided with the fence of Maduka University.
The impact caused the vehicle to burst into flames, leaving the occupants burnt beyond recognition. While two survivors were rescued and rushed to the hospital, the sixteen deceased passengers were confirmed dead. The bus was loaded with edible vegetables and food items, recovered by police from Igbo-Etiti Police Division. Although the exact route of the bus remains unclear, it was headed towards Nsukka from Enugu.
Enugu State Commissioner of Police Kanayo Uzuegbu visited the scene along with officials from the Federal Road Safety Corps to assess the situation and expressed condolences to the families of the victims. The incident underscores the importance of road safety measures to prevent such tragedies.
