One Dead, Eleven Injured On Way To NYSC Orientation Camp

A tragic road accident in Ebonyi State on Wednesday claimed the life of a prospective member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) while leaving 11 others injured.

The accident occurred in Amenu community, Okposi, when a 14-seater bus belonging to Enugu North Mass Transit rammed into a parked truck.

The victims, including 12 prospective corps members, were en route to the NYSC orientation camp in Afikpo, Afikpo Local Government Area, for their three-week programme as part of the 2024 Batch C Stream II.

According to Premium Times, witnesses reported that the deceased, a female corps member whose identity remains undisclosed, succumbed to injuries sustained in the crash.

A bystander said, “The bus was carrying 12 corps members and other passengers. The accident happened at Amenu, and sadly, one of them, a female, died. Others sustained injuries.”

The injured victims were quickly rescued by onlookers and security officials and transported to the David Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences (DUFUHS) for medical attention.

A hospital source confirmed their admission, stating, “They were brought in during the evening. They are responding to treatment.”

The incident marred the start of the orientation programme, as the victims were believed to have left Enugu earlier in the day for the camp in Afikpo.

FRSC Reacts To Accident

The Ebonyi State Sector Commander of the FRSC, Igwe Henry, confirmed the accident.

He, however, said he has no details of casualties as the victims were rescued before his officers got to the scene.

FRSC said, “At the time our men from Amasiri Unit Command got the information, and got to the scene, the victims had been rescued. They didn’t directly carry out the rescue, and therefore could not ascertain specifics of what happened.

“However, the crash occurred on 22nd January, at about 14.00 hours. The route was Amasiri-Okiigwe, where they call Amenu village in Okposi.

“Two vehicles were involved, one was a Toyota commercial bus, grey color, and the other was a Mercedes-Benz tipper (truck), a commercial Mercedes-Benz tipper, the regular tipper that you see around.”

Henry said their preliminary findings indicate that the accident may have been caused by excessive speed by the bus driver.

“But the details as to the number injured and so on have not been ascertained, because like I said, the victims were actually rescued by bystanders and then taken to David Umahi Hospital in Uburu.

“And then the items recovered at the scene, I understand, are in the custody of one Chief Amos, of Amenu village in the same Oposi.

“At the King David’s Hospital, where my men went, the ones they saw were actually in stable condition,” he said.

NYSC Official Confirms Accident

Naijaonpoint learnt that the Ebonyi State Coordinator of NYSC, Foluke Oladeinde, also confirmed the accident.

Mrs Oladeinde, who appeared to still be in a state of shock, could only confirm the accident but did not give further details.

“I am not in a right frame of mind to talk now. I am in the hospital now. Yes the accident occurred but I can’t talk right now,” she said.