death of a teacher while several students were injured and
are in critical condition in the hospital. The occupants of the
ill-fated bus were teachers and pupils from Bayelsa who were
on an excursion to the Ngwo Forestry in Udi Local
Government Area of Enugu State.
The Enugu State Commissioner for Health, Dr Sam Ngwu,
confirmed the accident and said it occurred at Ugwu
Onyeama, near Enugu at about 8.45 p.m. on Wednesday. NAN
reports 40 people were involved in the accident, most of
whom were between ages 7 to 15 years.
Ngwu revealed that the Bayelsa commissioner for health had
been notified of the incident and was on his way to see the
victims in Enugu.
“The victims were on an excursion to Enugu State.
Their bus fell into a gully and many of them sustained
multiple fractures, lacerations, cuts and swellings on
their faces. Some of the victims were immediately
taken to nearby hospitals in Ngwo, following the
intervention of the State Government. One of the
teachers died in the process, which is a miracle,
considering the severity of the accident,” Dr Ngwu
said.
He added:
"Eleven persons were severely injured. Ten of them
were later transferred to the National Orthopedic
Hospital, while others were moved to the University of
Nigeria Teaching Hospital."
The Enugu State Commissioner for Information, Dr Godwin
Udeuhele, lamented the poor state of the Enugu-Onitsha
expressway and the number of lives it has cost.
"We urge the Federal Government to expedite its
intervention on that road to minimise loss of lives and
property," Udeuhele said.
