Twelve people have been confirmed dead and eight others injured after a gas tanker rammed head-on into a commercial bus along the busy Owerri–Onitsha Expressway in Imo State.
The Imo State Police Command said the fatal crash occurred when a gas tanker with registration number T 16716 LA and bearing the inscription NUPENG drove against traffic, colliding with a commuter bus with registration ABB 79 BX. The bus was reportedly conveying members of the Jehovah’s Witness Church from Anambra State to Agwa in Oguta Local Government Area.
Police spokesperson DSP Henry Okoye confirmed in a statement that the victims’ bodies have been deposited at the Ogbaku mortuary while the injured are receiving treatment at Divine Hospital, Awo-Omamma, in Oru East. He added that investigators have been deployed to determine the circumstances leading to the tragedy.
According to the statement, police officers, led by the Divisional Police Officer of Awo-Omamma, worked with Federal Road Safety Corps officials to clear the wreckage and restore traffic flow on the highway.
Imo State Commissioner of Police, CP Aboki Danjuma, extended condolences to the families of the deceased and wished the survivors a swift recovery. He condemned reckless driving practices, warning that wrong-way driving, over-speeding, and negligence remain leading causes of fatal accidents across Nigeria.
The Police Command urged motorists to prioritise safety, obey traffic regulations, and drive responsibly to protect lives and property. Members of the public with information that could aid the ongoing investigation have been asked to contact the nearest police station or call the Command hotlines: 08148024755 or 08034773600.
Authorities say updates will be provided as the investigation progresses.
