Five people, including a seven-month-old baby, have died following a road crash along the Enugu–Abakaliki Highway near Nkalagu Junction in Ebonyi State.
The accident occurred on Friday morning when a Toyota Hummer bus carrying traders from northern Nigeria to the South-East plunged into a river after veering off a bridge.
The victims were confirmed dead at Annunciation Specialist Hospital in Emene, Enugu, where their bodies were deposited in the morgue. Several other passengers sustained injuries and are receiving treatment at the hospital.
Among the survivors is the infant's mother, who was rescued from the wreckage and is currently undergoing medical care.
According to eyewitnesses and officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), the crash happened on a narrow bridge along the highway. Reports indicate that the driver attempted to avoid a collision with another vehicle that was overtaking on the single-lane section of the road. In the process, the bus lost control, left the bridge and fell into the river below.
Witnesses also alleged that damage to the bridge's safety barriers contributed to the severity of the accident. One eyewitness said the protective iron rails had been vandalised, leaving vehicles with little protection in the event of an emergency.
The incident has renewed concerns about road infrastructure along the Enugu–Abakaliki Highway. Motorists have repeatedly complained about a damaged section of the dual carriageway that has forced traffic into a single lane for more than a year while reconstruction work continues.
The affected road segment reportedly collapsed shortly after the completion of the project in 2023. Since then, road users have raised concerns over the slow pace of repairs and the risks created by the traffic diversion.
The highway has witnessed several fatal accidents in recent years. A similar crash at the same location reportedly claimed 16 lives late last year.
As of the time of filing this report, the Ebonyi State Sector Command of the FRSC had not issued an official statement on the incident.
