Spokesperson of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) in Enugu State, Ebere Amaraizu, confirmed the incident to SaharaReporters through a telephone call. Amaraizu said the occupants of the bus were traveling from Abuja to Enugu when they had a head-on collision with another transport vehicle heading to the state from Markudi.
A police source has informed SaharaReporters that a fatal motor accident involving multiple vehicles along Opi/Eha-Alumona- Obollo-Afor Road close to Enugu State on Tuesday, killed no fewer than fifteen people and left many injured.
The accident involved a mini-bus bearing the inscription 'Peace Mass Transit Bus’ with vehicle registration number AKL 323 XA and an 18-seater bus with registration number NNE 605 XA.
Spokesperson of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) in Enugu State, Ebere Amaraizu, confirmed the incident to SaharaReporters through a telephone call. Amaraizu said the occupants of the bus were traveling from Abuja to Enugu when they had a head-on collision with another transport vehicle heading to the state from Markudi.
He added that the collision resulted in a large explosion with many of the passengers burnt beyond recognition in the accident. The accident was said to have been caused by a bad portion on the road as the two drivers were trying to negotiate a bend.
Eyewitnesses told SaharaReporters that efforts to rescue many of the trapped passengers proved impossible as the vehicles were quickly consumed by the raging fire. "We tried to help the passengers but it was difficult for us because the vehicles had already been locked and was too stiff to open. All our efforts were fruitless, as fire had consumed the vehicles and it was difficult to quench.”
Rescue workers who responded to the scene of the incident experienced much difficulty in saving more lives and whisked away several badly burnt survivors to a nearby private hospital.