Tragedy struck along the Obiri-Ikwerre-Airport road in Port Harcourt as a Toyota Hiace bus collided with a heavy-duty truck belonging to a construction company, claiming the lives of two people.
The accident, which occurred on Friday, May 8, 2026, also left several other passengers injured.
Eyewitnesses said the bus was conveying mourners heading to a burial ceremony in Imo State when the incident happened.
A commercial tricycle operator, Emmanuel Ugochukwu, who spoke at the scene, attributed the crash to brake failure on the Hiace bus.
“The bus lost control due to brake failure and rammed into the truck,” he told reporters.
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Two other witnesses, Ibrahim Isah and Blessing, described the scene as “unfortunate and heartbreaking.” They confirmed that the victims were part of a group travelling for the burial when the tragedy occurred.
The impact of the collision was said to have been severe, with the Hiace bus sustaining extensive damage. Rescue efforts were promptly initiated as sympathisers and road users assisted in evacuating the injured to nearby hospitals.
As at press time, security operatives had taken over the scene, cordoning off the area to prevent further accidents while ensuring the free flow of traffic. The mangled vehicles were still being removed from the road.
The incident has once again raised concerns about the roadworthiness of commercial vehicles plying the busy route.
Transport operators and relevant authorities have been urged to intensify vehicle maintenance checks to avert similar occurrences.
