A routine journey turned tragic on Monday night when a commercial bus heading from Benue to Onitsha collided with a 911 truck ferrying bags of sachet water from Enugu to Abakaliki. The accident occurred around the Ebonyi State University (EBSU) permanent site in Ezzamgbo, Ohaukwu Local Government Area, leaving a trail of grief and injuries.
Witnesses at the scene described a horrifying crash triggered by the truck’s failed brakes. But beyond mechanical fault, fingers have been pointed at the police checkpoint in Ishieke, where officers allegedly blocked the road, creating a hazard that many locals say has been a recurring danger.
According to eyewitness Goddy Ogba, the tragedy was avoidable. He insisted that checkpoints along the axis have repeatedly turned into death traps at night, exposing unsuspecting travelers to needless risks. “Families are now in mourning, and survivors are fighting for their lives, all because of reckless road management,” he lamented.
Conflicting accounts have since emerged over the death toll. While locals insist that at least five people died in the crash, the Ebonyi State Police Command has confirmed two fatalities. Police spokesperson, SP Joshua Ukandu, added that the injured were immediately rushed to hospital for treatment.
The incident has revived calls for a reassessment of traffic enforcement practices in the state. For many road users, the Ishieke checkpoint has become synonymous with gridlock, tension, and accidents — a reputation that Monday’s disaster has only reinforced.
As investigations continue, families of victims are left grappling with sudden loss, while survivors nurse wounds that serve as painful reminders of a system that could have better protected them.
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