A tragic accident on the Calabar-Itu federal highway claimed the lives of 17 people on Friday afternoon when a containerized trailer veered off its lane and crushed a commercial bus traveling from Uyo to Calabar.
According to eyewitnesses, the 40-foot trailer completely smashed the 16-seater bus, killing all occupants—16 passengers and the driver—instantly. There were no survivors from the horrific crash.
"There were no survivors. The trailer completely smashed the bus. It was a horrific scene," recounted an eyewitness identified only as Emmanuel.
Poor Road Conditions Blamed for Accident
The eyewitness attributed the accident to the deplorable condition of the Calabar-Itu highway, which has reportedly been undergoing repairs for more than 15 years without significant improvement.
Community youths and concerned individuals evacuated the victims' bodies to an undisclosed mortuary following the incident. Attempts by BenriNews to reach officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and police in Calabar for comments were unsuccessful, as neither agency was willing to speak on the matter.
This accident comes amid growing concerns about the state of federal highways across Nigeria and the increasing number of fatal road accidents in the country.
The Calabar-Itu highway, a critical route connecting Cross River and Akwa Ibom states, has long been notorious for its poor condition despite numerous promises of rehabilitation by successive governments.
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