By joshua 
3 Dead, many Injured in ghastly motor accident in Ebonyi
By Our Correspondent
Tragedy struck on Wednesday at Nwanwu Junction, Abakaliki Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, as a concrete mixer truck allegedly suffered brake failure and rammed into roadside shops, killing three persons and leaving many others critically injured.
According to an eyewitness, Miss Chinwe Awoke, the truck, belonging to a construction company, was descending Offia Oku Amachi Road from Nwezenyi when it lost control while attempting to avoid colliding with a motorcycle. In the process, it veered off the road, crushing shops and passersby.
Shops belonging to DJ Ogobest and two food vendors were completely destroyed, while nearby businesses and properties sustained varying degrees of damage.
Speaking on the incident, the Executive Chairman of Abakaliki Local Government Area, Hon. Ebere Nwogba, expressed deep sympathy, describing the tragedy as heartbreaking and a huge loss to the community.
He extended condolences to the bereaved families and prayed for the quick recovery of those injured.
“This is a sad day for the people of Amachi and the entire Abakaliki LGA. We mourn with the families who lost their loved ones and assure them that every possible step will be taken to prevent such a tragedy from happening again,” Nwogba stated.
The Chairman further urged residents to remain calm, assuring that law enforcement agencies were already investigating the cause of the accident. He also appealed to motorists and road users to exercise caution, obey traffic rules, and avoid speeding especially in densely populated areas.
“The remains of the three deceased victims were confirmed to have been deposited in a morgue, while those injured are receiving medical treatment” the council boss submitted.
The unfortunate incident thrown the Community members into deep mourning, with many expressing shock and calling on authorities to enforce stricter traffic safety measures, particularly on roads prone for accidents.
Another witness who spoke in the condition of anonymity expressed deep sorrow over the incident and prayed that no more death would be recorded among the victims.
“It was a scene of sorrow. We can only pray that no more deaths are recorded,” the source” lamented
The Sector Commander of Federal Road Safety Corps in Ebonyi, Anthony Ogodo confirmed the incident.
He said: “The unit commander at Igbeagu and the officers there got the information and rushed to the scene.
“The crash happened around 11.20 hours in the morning. So, when they got the news, they rushed there immediately. It happened along the Ogojo Abakaliki trunk a road.”
Ogbodo said the accident involved a Mercedes-Benz cement mixer which rammed into people at a local drinking joint and killed three people instantly.
He noted that the Road Safety officials took the corpses of the deceased to St Vincent Hospital in Ndubia.