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By Goli Innocent
A devastating road accident claimed the lives of 14 wedding guests returning from a traditional marriage ceremony in Enugu over the weekend.
The victims were travelling in a coaster bus on Saturday evening when it collided head-on with an articulated vehicle along the Enugu–Port Harcourt Expressway near the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ozalla, around 6:00 p.m. Fourteen passengers died instantly, while several others later succumbed to injuries in hospitals. Many survivors remain in critical condition.
Most of the deceased were traders from Bonny Street, Owerri Road, near Isi Gate, Umuahia. The groom, Mr. MacDonald Okechukwu, an indigene of Orlu, Imo State, had invited many friends and colleagues from the trading community, contributing to the large number of casualties. A popular MC known as MC Counsellor, who anchored the wedding, was also among the victims.
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Eyewitnesses said the bus may have been driving against traffic while the trailer attempted to overtake a tricycle, leading to the fatal collision. Bonny Street Traders Association Chairman, Mr. James Edeh, confirmed the evacuation of 12 bodies, including eight traders, two of the groom’s kinsmen, and two other guests, while two bodies were left in Enugu for easier identification.
Several injured passengers are receiving treatment at private hospitals in Umuahia, while others with fractures are admitted at the Federal Orthopaedic Hospital, Enugu. The association appealed for government intervention to ensure proper care for survivors.
Responding to the tragedy, the Special Adviser on Media to the Abia State Governor, Ferdinand Ekeoma, said the governor directed authorities to identify victims and provide support for medical treatment and assistance to bereaved families.
The incident has plunged the Umuahia trading community into mourning and underscores the ongoing dangers on Nigeria’s highways.
