Reported By Mary Udezue | Edited by: Pierre Antoine
A tragic road traffic accident on Friday night claimed the lives of four women and left nine other people injured in Anambra State, federal safety authorities have confirmed. The crash occurred along the Agulu Lake–Nanka stretch of the Awka–Ekwulobia road in Anaocha Local Government Area, a key transport corridor that connects communities and commercial centres in the state, according to a press statement from the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).
The collision unfolded at approximately 6:18 p.m. on Friday as darkness was setting in. Emergency responders and local eyewitnesses described a chaotic scene in which at least four different vehicles were involved. Among them were a Toyota Hiace passenger van, a trailer, a shuttle bus and a Toyota Hilux pickup. Officials indicated that the accident was most likely caused by speed and loss of control, as one of the vehicles descended a hill approaching a narrow section of the road and failed to brake effectively.
Witnesses told rescue teams that the victims, many of whom were returning from a burial ceremony, were travelling together when the driver’s vehicle reportedly lost its brake function, causing it to veer and collide with the other vehicles. The severity of the impact caused extensive damage to the vehicles and left several passengers severely injured.
The corpses of the four women — whose identities have not yet been publicly disclosed — were confirmed by FRSC personnel at the scene and later deposited at the morgue of St. Joseph Hospital, Adazi. The nine injured victims, comprising men, women and children, were taken to the same hospital for urgent medical treatment, with some reported to be in critical condition.
Traffic officials emphasised that 19 people in total were involved in the crash, including six adult males, ten adult females and three male children. Continued investigations by the FRSC are focusing on vehicle speed and road conditions as primary factors, with authorities urging drivers to exercise greater caution on hilly stretches and narrow bridges where losing vehicle control can lead to catastrophic outcomes.
FRSC Sector Public Education Officer Margaret Onabe extended condolences to the families of the deceased and wished those injured a speedy recovery, also reminding motorists that road safety is a shared responsibility. Officials highlighted that the combination of high speed, loss of brake control and road geometry contributed to the severity of the crash and underscored the need for adherence to speed regulations.
Police and rescue units temporarily blocked off parts of the affected road to allow emergency personnel to clear wreckage and restore traffic flow. FRSC teams sounded a renewed call for improved road maintenance, adequate signage and better driver awareness, particularly during nighttime hours when visibility is reduced and the dangers of speed-related loss of control are amplified.
The deadly collision adds to a broader pattern of fatal road crashes in the state and region, with recent incidents on Anambra highways involving several fatalities in previous months. Analysts and safety advocates have long criticised infrastructure gaps, narrow bridges and deficient traffic enforcement along major intercity routes as persistent hazards for commercial and private motorists alike.
As families of the victims mourn and health professionals continue treatment for the injured, law enforcement and traffic authorities have pledged to intensify patrols and inspections along high-risk corridors to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
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