Tears flowed freely Tuesday morning, August 6, as a fatal crash involving an 18-seater commercial bus claimed the life of a baby and left several passengers severely injured along the notorious Isiala Ngwa–Ntigha Junction on the Enugu–Port Harcourt Expressway in Abia State.
The ill-fated bus was en route from Ebonyi to Aba when the tragic incident occurred. Eyewitnesses say the impact of the collision was devastating, with the baby reportedly suffering a fatal head injury on the spot, while other passengers—including women and elderly individuals—sustained varying degrees of injuries.
Emergency responders and concerned motorists rushed to the scene, assisting in evacuating the injured to nearby hospitals. Sadly, the lifeless body of the infant was quickly removed by grieving family members before authorities could arrive. Photos from the scene showed a mangled vehicle and scattered personal effects of the passengers.
Local transport unions blame speeding and poor road markings for the accident. Although the specific cause of the crash has not yet been officially confirmed, residents and commuters have long flagged the Isiala Ngwa–Ntigha Junction as a death trap, calling for urgent government intervention to install warning signs and proper lighting.
According to the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), that section of the Enugu–Port Harcourt Expressway has witnessed over 30 reported accidents between January and July 2025 alone, many of them involving commercial vehicles. Officials continue to urge drivers to adhere strictly to speed limits, especially around known black spots.
As rescue workers cleared the wreckage, locals gathered to mourn the loss of the infant—believed to be less than two years old. One elderly woman, said to be the baby’s grandmother, was seen wailing uncontrollably while holding the child’s toy retrieved from the crash site.
Calls have now grown louder for federal and state governments to take immediate action to fix the deadly junction, enforce stricter road safety compliance, and prevent further loss of innocent lives on Nigeria’s highways.
