UGWU ONYEAMA AGAIN: 5 DEAD, 18 INJURED IN FRESH CRASH
Five people have been killed and 18 others injured following a multiple-vehicle crash at the Ugwu Onyeama axis of the Enugu–Onitsha Expressway in Enugu State.
The crash occurred at about 3:18 p.m. on Thursday, September 3, 2026, near the LNG Plant at Ugwu Onyeama, according to the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).
According to the FRSC Route Commander and Enugu State Sector Command Public Enlightenment Officer, Theophilus Okoduwa, 25 people were involved in the crash — 13 males and 12 females.
Eighteen victims, comprising seven males and 11 females, sustained injuries, while four males and one female died from the impact of the collision.
The vehicles involved were identified as a Dongfeng trailer, a Mitsubishi L300 commercial bus and a Honda car.
The FRSC said its personnel arrived at the scene within nine minutes after the crash was reported at about 3:25 p.m. The injured victims were evacuated to Tex Hospital, 9th Mile Corner, for immediate medical attention, while the remains of the five deceased were deposited at Ekochin Morgue, 9th Mile, following confirmation by medical officials.
Traffic was subsequently diverted as emergency personnel worked to clear the wreckage and restore normal movement along the affected section of the expressway.
What caused the crash?
While investigations are still ongoing, preliminary findings by the FRSC point to wrongful overtaking and speeding as possible causes of the accident.
The latest crash has once again drawn attention to the safety concerns surrounding the Ugwu Onyeama section of the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway, a stretch that has witnessed several serious crashes in recent years.
In January 2025, for example, a petrol tanker explosion at Ugwu Onyeama killed 18 people and involved 16 vehicles, according to NEMA’s subsequent assessment.
There have also been other fatal incidents at the axis in 2026, including a March crash that reportedly killed three people and a June tanker-related incident in which three people died.
The recurrence of serious crashes raises fresh questions about driver behaviour, speeding, overtaking practices, heavy-duty vehicle safety and the management of the steep and challenging section of the highway.
For now, authorities have confirmed five fatalities and 18 injuries in Thursday’s crash, while investigations into the precise circumstances continue.
Source: News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Federal Road Safety Corps reports.
