At least 12 people have been confirmed dead, with several others sustaining varying degrees of injuries, in a fatal road accident that occurred over the weekend along the Afahaobong–Iwukem highway, a route connecting Abak and Etim Ekpo Local Government Areas of Akwa Ibom State.
The crash, which happened late Friday evening near Iwukem village, involved a commercial passenger bus and a private Toyota car. The highway, which serves as a major link to Aba in Abia State and Port Harcourt in Rivers State, has long been notorious for its poor condition.
According to eyewitness Idara Marcus, a resident of the neighbouring Udianga Enem village, the white Hummer bus—bearing the inscription “Delking Motors” and registration number NDN 419 Y—was en route from Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, to Port Harcourt. It collided head-on with a private car believed to be transporting university students back to their campus. The car was completely wrecked, and its registration number could not be identified.
Idara recounted that the collision occurred at the Usung Atai axis of the narrow, single-lane road. He explained that both vehicles were at high speed when they attempted to swerve around a large, open ditch located between Ikot Agwak and Iwukem villages.
“There’s a very bad portion of the road in that area,” he said. “Both drivers, in a bid to avoid the pothole, tried to switch to what they assumed was the safer side of the road—unaware that another vehicle was approaching from the opposite direction. They collided head-on.”
The impact was devastating. Idara confirmed that five passengers aboard the Hummer bus died on the spot, along with all four occupants of the private car. Tragically, three more victims from the bus later succumbed to their injuries at the General Hospital in Etim Ekpo, where others— including the bus driver—are currently receiving treatment for life-threatening injuries.
Local authorities and emergency responders have since been alerted, and efforts are ongoing to provide medical attention to survivors and investigate the exact circumstances of the accident.