Tragedy struck at the Agulu Lake, Nanka-Agulu road axis of the Awka–Ekwulobia Road in Anaocha LGA of Anambra State, when no fewer than four women were killed and nine persons sustained varying degrees of injuries in a road crash involving multiple vehicles on Friday night.
Eyewitnesses near the scene said the victims were returning from a burial ceremony when the driver of the vehicle conveying them lost control while descending towards the narrow bridge and plunged into the crash.
Although the eyewitnesses could not confirm the exact number of casualties, the Federal Road Safety Corps put the casualty number at four.
One of the eyewitnesses said, “The driver of the vehicle was descending the road when the vehicle failed brakes and he lost control, thereby plunging into the crash, killing some people, mostly women, instantly and injuring others.
“The accident occurred at about 7pm on Friday. From their attire, the victims were returning from a burial ceremony. Some of the community members did a first emergency response before the arrival of officials at the scene.
“The road is very narrow and the absence of an alternative bridge that would allow vehicles ascending and descending the hilly stretch to use separate lanes is always causing traffic crashes along that corridor.”
When contacted on the development, the Sector Public Education Officer, FRSC, Anambra State Command, Margaret Onabe, confirmed the crash in a press statement on Saturday.
Onabe said the crash involved four vehicles – Toyota Hiace, Registration Number: HAL676YG; Trailer, Registration Number: N/A; Shuttle, with Registration Number: UKP274YA; and a Toyota Hellux, Registration Number: N/A.
According to her, the crash occurred at 18:18 hours on Friday, killing four persons and injuring nine others.
The statement read, “A fatal road traffic crash occurred on, 27th February 2026, at Agulu Lake, Nanka-Agulu road. The probable cause was speed and loss of control.
“There were no eyewitnesses to the crash, as all the drivers fled the scene.
“However, according to observations by the FRSC rescue team from Nanka outpost, it was noted that the vehicle was descending the hill at a high speed, lost control, and collided with three other vehicles.
“The total number of people involved was 19, comprising six male adults, 10 female adults, and 3 male children. Nine people, comprising two male adults, four female adults,s and three male children, were injured, while four female adults were killed.”
It added, “Victims were taken to St Joseph Hospital Adazi for treatment; bodies were deposited at the hospital morgue. An alternative route was also created for traffic flow.”
She said the Sector Commander, Corps Commander Bridget Asekhauno, commiserated with the dead victims’ families, and wished the injured a quick recovery while expressing condolences to the families of the victims and wished the injured a swift recovery.
“The sector commander urged motorists to prioritise safety and drive cautiously to prevent preventable crashes.
“Drive safely to stay alive; safety is everyone’s responsibility,” she added.
On Friday, at least six passengers lost their lives, while three others sustained injuries in a crash, following an accident that occurred along the Keffi–Akwanga Expressway in Nasarawa State, the Federal Road Safety Corps in the state confirmed on Thursday.
The accident occurred when the driver of a Toyota Sienna bus attempted to evade an FRSC inspection on the highway.
The PUNCH