Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
A hit-and-run tipper driver has crushed a male pedestrian to death along the Onitsha-Awka Expressway in Anambra State, an incident that has reignited concerns over the persistent menace of one-way driving in the state. The driver, who was reportedly driving against traffic, fatally struck the victim on Saturday, July 25, 2026, and immediately fled the scene, according to a statement issued by the Managing Director of the Anambra State Road Traffic Management Agency (ARTMA), Engr. Emeka Konti-Okonkwo.
Confirming the incident on Thursday, July 30, 2026, Konti-Okonkwo said the vehicle was eventually tracked and intercepted at Upper Iweka in Onitsha by operatives of the agency. He regretted that the deceased, described as a father and a promising young man, lost his life due to the driver’s recklessness. The vehicle has been impounded by ARTMA, and the matter has been handed over to the police for further investigation and possible prosecution.
"The incident, coming just a few days after the agency launched the 'See It, Video It and Earn' initiative, occurred on July 25 when the driver of a tipper, while driving against traffic, allegedly knocked down the deceased," Konti-Okonkwo stated. He lamented that "a father, a brother and a promising young man lost his life because a motorist chose to violate traffic regulations instead of driving a short distance to make a lawful turn." The ARTMA boss emphasised that the report confirms the dangers associated with one-way driving and the urgent need for stricter enforcement of traffic regulations across the state.
Identifying one-way driving as one of the leading causes of avoidable road crashes in Anambra, Konti-Okonkwo expressed regret that some motorists, especially drivers of heavy-duty vehicles, continue to engage in the dangerous practice despite sustained awareness campaigns, repeated warnings, and ongoing enforcement efforts. He further decried the frequent insults, intimidation, and blackmail his officers are often subjected to while enforcing the law, especially when they refuse to yield to pressure from influential individuals seeking leniency for offenders.
"The latest tragedy has reinforced the agency's determination to sustain the campaign against one-way driving until the menace is completely eradicated from roads across the state," he added. In a follow-up statement, ARTMA disclosed that it had formally written to various tipper drivers' unions and their chairmen across the state, urging them to sensitise their members and ensure strict compliance with traffic regulations.
The incident occurred just weeks after the Enugu State Police Command confirmed the death of a police inspector, Dr Ikechukwu Obodo, who was killed in a similar hit-and-run motor-pedestrian accident within the state on July 7. As investigations continue, the Anambra State Police Command and ARTMA have intensified efforts to curb the rising wave of traffic violations, warning that motorists caught driving against traffic will face the full weight of the law.
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