Crash on Enugu-Onitsha Expressway: One Dead, Four Journalists, Others Injured-FRSC.
The Federal Road Safety Corps has confirmed that four journalists were among eight persons injured in a multi-vehicle crash that claimed one life along the Ugwu-Onyeama axis of the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway.
The Enugu State Sector Commander of the corps, Franklin Agbakoba, disclosed this in Enugu on Sunday, describing the incident as another grim reminder of the dangers associated with the notorious stretch of the highway.
Agbakoba said the accident, which occurred at about 10:30 a.m. on Saturday March 28, involved nine persons-six males and three females, adding that three commercial vehicles, including a Mercedes truck, a Toyota Sienna, and a Toyota Hiace bus were involved in the crash.
According to him, preliminary findings indicated that dangerous overtaking and excessive speed were the likely causes of the crash.
He noted that personnel of the FRSC responded promptly to the distress call, evacuating the injured victims to a hospital at the 9th Mile area for urgent medical attention, while the body of the deceased was deposited at a morgue in Enugu.
“We also cleared the obstruction caused by the crash to ensure the free flow of traffic along the expressway,” Agbakoba added.
Among the injured were four journalists attached to Nigerian Television Authority, NTA and African Independent Television, AIT. They were identified as reporter Chimaroke Ugwu, cameraman Jerry Ugwuanyi, reporter Kelechi Ekeledo, and cameraman Ifeanyi Ogbodo respectively.
The involvement of the journalists has heightened concern within the media community in Enugu, as colleagues and stakeholders expressed worry over their safety while carrying out official assignments.
NUJ Chairman Reacts Over the Crash Involving Journalists On Enugu-Onitsha Expressway
Reacting to the development, the Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Enugu State Council, Obinna Ogbuka, described the incident as disturbing, especially given the recurring accidents along the Ugwu-Onyeama stretch.
Ogbuka sympathised with the injured journalists and prayed for their quick recovery, while also calling on authorities to take urgent steps to address the persistent hazards on the road.
He emphasised the need for the speedy completion of ongoing reconstruction works on the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway, noting that delays had continued to endanger the lives of commuters, including media professionals frequently travelling on assignment.
The NUJ chairman further urged motorists to adhere strictly to traffic regulations, warning against reckless driving behaviours such as excessive speeding and dangerous overtaking, which he said remained major causes of road crashes.
The Ugwu-Onyeama axis of the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway has long been identified as a high-risk corridor due to its challenging terrain, including steep slopes and sharp bends, as well as heavy vehicular traffic.
Stakeholders have repeatedly called for comprehensive safety interventions, including improved road engineering, stricter enforcement of traffic laws, and sustained public awareness campaigns to reduce accidents and safeguard lives, particularly those of professionals like journalists who are frequently on the move in the line of duty.
