A wave of grief has swept through Umuahia, the Abia State capital, following a devastating road accident that claimed the lives of at least 14 people returning from a traditional marriage and wedding ceremony.
The victims were travelling back from a ceremony in Enugu on Saturday evening when the coaster bus conveying them collided head-on with a trailer along the Enugu–Port Harcourt Expressway near the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital in Ozalla.
Eyewitnesses said the crash occurred around 6:00 p.m., close to the popular 4-Corner Junction. Fourteen passengers were reportedly killed on the spot, while others later died from injuries sustained in the collision. Several survivors remain hospitalized in Umuahia, battling for their lives.
Most of the deceased were traders in foodstuffs at Bonny Street, located by Owerri Road near Isi Gate in Umuahia. Among them was the groom, Mr. MacDonald Okechukwu, an indigene of Orlu in Imo State. His bride is from Amagunze in Nkanu, Enugu State, where the wedding ceremonies had just been concluded before the tragic journey.
On Monday, Bonny Street, usually a busy commercial hub, was subdued as shops remained closed and sympathizers gathered to console bereaved families.
Chairman of the Bonny Street Traders Association, Mr. James Edeh, described the incident as horrific. He said initial accounts from the trailer driver alleged that the bus was driving against traffic while the trailer was attempting to overtake a tricycle, resulting in the fatal collision.
According to him, 12 bodies were evacuated from the scene, including eight traders, two relatives of the groom, and two other guests.
Reacting to the incident, the Abia State Governor, through his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ferdinand Ekeoma, expressed deep sorrow and directed relevant authorities to identify the victims. The governor also instructed the Commissioner for Poverty Alleviation and Social Protection to coordinate support for the injured and provide assistance to families of the deceased.
