Twelve members of the Jehovah’s Witnesses have lost their lives in a fatal road crash along the Owerri-Onitsha expressway, near Njaba Bridge, Imo State.
The victims, who were traveling from Anambra State to Agwa village in Oguta Local Government Area for a church program, were in a commuter bus that collided head-on with a gas tanker reportedly driving against traffic late Sunday night.
Confirming the incident, the spokesperson for the Imo State Police Command, ASP Henry Okoye, said the crash occurred at about 9:00 p.m. on September 7.
“Twelve persons died on the spot—eight adults and four children—while eight other passengers sustained varying degrees of injuries. The deceased were taken to Ogbaku Mortuary, and the injured are currently receiving treatment at Divine Hospital, Awo-Omamma,” Okoye stated.
He explained that the tanker, a NUPENG-marked truck with registration number T 16716 LA, rammed into the bus with registration number ABB 79 BX, leaving both vehicles badly damaged.
Okoye added that normal traffic flow had since been restored after emergency services cleared the wreckage.
The Imo State Commissioner of Police, CP Aboki Danjuma, described the crash as “heart-wrenching” and extended his condolences to the bereaved families.
“We deeply mourn with the families affected by this tragic loss. I urge all motorists to avoid reckless driving and obey traffic rules to prevent needless deaths on our highways,” the Commissioner said.
The Police Command has appealed to road users to remain vigilant, stressing that driver negligence and disregard for road safety regulations often contribute to such fatal crashes.
