In a tragic incident on Monday evening, three people, including a lawyer, lost their lives while several others were severely injured when a truck loaded with flour crashed into shops in Utu Etim Ekpo, the headquarters of Etim Ekpo Local Government Area in Akwa Ibom State.
The accident occurred around 8 p.m., leaving the community in grief.
A local resident, Gabriel Akpan, recounted that the accident happened when the truck, apparently fleeing from Nigerian Army personnel allegedly demanding bribes at a checkpoint on the Nkwot Ikot Ebo section of the Iwukem – Etim Ekpo – Abak Road, lost control.
“The truck was coming from the Iwukem side towards Abak, and when the soldiers at the Nkwot Ikot Ebo roadblock signaled it to stop, the driver sped past them,” Akpan explained.
Akpan further noted that the soldiers attempted to pursue and overtake the truck, but the driver refused to stop.
“The truck sped downhill toward the roundabout, and with that momentum, the driver couldn’t navigate the curve,” he added, describing how the vehicle veered off the road and crashed into the shops, resulting in the immediate deaths of the victims.
Another resident, Eno Umanah, who was near the scene as a motorcyclist, recalled, “The driver lost control, went off the road, and plowed into several makeshift shops by the motor park, claiming lives without warning.”
Akaninyene Umanah, also from the area, lamented that this road has been the scene of multiple fatalities. “Over 70 lives have been lost on this road, including nearly 40 churchgoers returning from a convention, as well as commercial drivers and motorcyclists,” he said.
An unnamed resident expressed concerns about the roundabout, an issue he had raised in the past. “I mentioned the dangers of this roundabout years ago, but I was accused of showing disrespect to local elders”.
“If you’re coming from the Stadium area, that slope leads directly to the roundabout, making it incredibly risky. I hope this incident pushes for safety changes”, he shared.
Meanwhile, the Public Relations Officer of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Akwa Ibom State, John James, stated that he would provide an update once he arrived at his office.
