Twelve members of Jehovah’s Witnesses have died in a road accident along the Owerri-Onitsha road, after the Njaba bridge, Imo state.
The accident occurred on Sunday at about 9 pm and involved a gas tanker marked “NUPENG” with registration number T 16716 LA, which was driving against traffic, and a commuter bus with registration number ABB 79 BX conveying the church members.
The spokesperson of the Imo police command, Henry Okoye, confirmed the accident in a statement on Monday.
Okoye said 12 people, including eight adults and four children, died, while eight others sustained injuries.
He said the remains of the deceased have been deposited at Ogbaku mortuary, while the injured are receiving treatment at Divine Hospital, Awo-Omamma.
The police spokesman added that the wreckage has been cleared and traffic flow restored, noting that Aboki Danjuma, Commissioner of Police in Imo, has commiserated with the bereaved families and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured.
Okoye warned motorists against reckless driving and urged road users to obey traffic rules.