The Imo State Police Command says it has begun investigations into a fatal crash that left 12 members of the Jehovah’s Witness Church dead along the Owerri–Onitsha Road on Sunday, September 7.
The accident, which occurred around 9:00 p.m. after Njaba Bridge, involved a gas tanker and a commuter bus conveying worshippers from Anambra State to Agwa village in Imo.
Police spokesperson, DSP Henry Okoye, said the tanker, registered T 16716 LA with NUPENG’s inscription, was driving against traffic when it collided with the bus, registered ABB 79 BX.
“The impact was devastating, leading to the death of twelve persons, eight adults and four children, while eight others sustained varying degrees of injury,” Okoye said in a statement on Tuesday.
He added that the dead had been evacuated to Ogbaku Mortuary while the injured were receiving treatment at Divine Hospital, Awo-Omamma.
According to him, the wreckage was cleared and normal traffic flow restored by a joint team of police officers led by the DPO Awo-Omamma in collaboration with the Federal Road Safety Corps.
The Commissioner of Police, Aboki Danjuma, described the crash as “tragic and avoidable.”
He said: “The command deeply sympathises with the bereaved families and prays for the quick recovery of the injured. We strongly warn motorists against reckless practices such as one-way driving, over-speeding, and negligence, which remain the leading causes of fatal accidents.”
Okoye quoted the CP as further directing intensified enforcement on notorious highways. “Our men will continue to clamp down on offenders to ensure safety on the roads. The safety of lives and property remains a top priority for the Imo Police Command,” he said.
The police urged residents with relevant information to assist the investigation. “We encourage the public to come forward with useful details by contacting the nearest police station or calling 08148024755 and 08034773600,” Okoye added, assuring that updates would be provided as investigations progress.
