A devastating accident occurred on Friday evening in Nnewi, Anambra State, when a truck carrying a 40-foot container loaded with cement crashed into a residential building, killing at least six people. The victims included three children from the same family.
According to eyewitnesses, the truck suffered a brake failure, causing the driver to lose control and crash into several buildings before coming to a halt. The incident occurred at Area Command Bus Stop, near the Nnewi Police Area Command.
An eyewitness described the scene as chaotic, with the truck clearing several structures and people before ramming into the residential building. “It was an unfortunate incident, especially as it happened while some people were gathered in their compounds celebrating Valentine’s Day,” the eyewitness said.
A graphic video of the crash circulated on social media, showing residents and passersby making frantic rescue efforts to retrieve the lifeless bodies of the victims. A woman, suspected to be the mother of the four children, was seen wailing as sympathizers consoled her.
The Anambra State Police Command confirmed that six people died in the incident, while two others sustained serious injuries. However, eyewitnesses claimed that the death toll exceeded 10.
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) attributed the causes of the fatal accident to excessive speed, brake failure, and loss of control. The FRSC rescue team from Nnewi conducted an extrication, and the bodies of the deceased were transferred to Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital.
The incident has sent shockwaves through the community, with residents calling for improved road safety measures to prevent such tragedies in the future.
