No fewer than 16 passengers have died in an accident along the Calabar-Itu Highway in Cross River State.
It was gathered that the tragic incident occurred when a forty-foot container truck lost control and veered off its lane, crashing into a fully loaded 16-seater commercial bus en route to Calabar.
The massive impact caused the container to topple onto the bus, crushing all passengers onboard.
The accident, which occurred late Friday night, has once again drawn national attention to the deplorable condition of the Calabar-Itu Road—a critical federal highway that connects Cross River and Akwa Ibom states.
Eyewitnesses and local residents blamed the poor state of the road for the fatal crash, citing numerous potholes, failed sections, and the absence of proper drainage systems.
“The road has become a death trap,” said Emmanuel Okon, a commercial driver who narrowly escaped the incident. “We have complained for years, but nothing has been done. Now innocent people have died for no reason.”
When contacted for comments, the Cross River State spokesperson for the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), IM Eke, said: “I am currently in the state, but an accident did occur. Let me call and get back to you.”
