Six persons have died and 14 others were injured in a fatal crash along the Abakaliki–Enugu Expressway in Ebonyi State.

The accident, which occurred near the Nkalagu overhead bridge in Ishielu Local Government Area, involved a tipper truck and a commercial bus carrying passengers.

Confirming the incident, the Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Ebonyi State, Anthony Ogbodo, said 22 people were involved in the crash, while two escaped unhurt.

He attributed the cause of the accident to dangerous overtaking on the busy route.

Ogbodo said the victims were immediately evacuated to nearby hospitals for treatment.

“Some of the injured victims were taken to Annunciation and Orthopaedic Hospitals in Enugu by our officers and the Red Cross, while others were taken to the General Hospital, Ezzamgbo, in Ebonyi State,” he said.

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A resident of Nkalagu, who spoke on condition of anonymity, described the Enugu–Nkalagu Expressway as one of the most dangerous routes in the area, blaming its design and poor construction for frequent accidents.

“The road is very dangerous because of its one-way nature and the hard concrete central demarcation, which doesn’t allow vehicles to manoeuvre or dodge reckless drivers,” the resident said.

The source recalled that since 2019, when former Governor David Umahi began the dualisation of the Enugu–Abakaliki Expressway with a flyover at the Nkalagu junction, a one-kilometre stretch from the Enugu–Nkalagu boundary to the junction has remained incomplete and blocked.

“The central demarcation worsens the situation, leaving vehicles with no option during emergencies. Hardly a month passes without an accident on this road,” the resident added.

He called on both the federal and state governments to speed up work on the project to prevent further tragedies. Residents living along the expressway reportedly struggle to access their homes due to the blockade.