At least 12 people, including four children, died on Tuesday after a gas tanker collided with a commuter bus along the Owerri/Onitsha expressway in Imo state.
Gatekeepers News reports that according to the Imo state police command, the tanker bearing registration number T 16716 LA and marked with the inscription NUPENG, was driving against traffic when it rammed into the bus. The vehicle was conveying members of the Jehovah’s Witness Church from Anambra state to Agwa village in Imo.
Henry Okoye, spokesperson of the police command, confirmed that eight adults and four children died in the accident, while eight others sustained injuries. He said the deceased were taken to Ogbaku Mortuary, and the injured are receiving treatment at Divine Hospital Awo-Omamma.
He said, “Regrettably, twelve persons lost their lives in the accident, eight adults and four children while eight persons were injured.”
“The deceased have been evacuated and deposited at Ogbaku Mortuary while the injured persons are receiving treatment at Divine Hospital Awo-Omamma. Wreckage on the road has been cleared and free flow of traffic restored by a team of police personnel led by the DPO of Awo-Omamma in synergy with Road Safety personnel. Further updates will be communicated as investigations progress.”
Okoye noted that the police have launched an investigation into the crash and assured that the road has since been cleared for traffic flow.
Aboki Danjuma, Imo state commissioner of police, expressed condolences to the families of the victims and cautioned motorists against reckless driving, particularly wrong-way driving.
