A devastating tanker explosion at Ugwu Onyeama, along the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway, has claimed the lives of 11 members of the same family from the Abofia-Agbaja community in Ebonyi Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
According to The PUNCH, the tragic incident occurred around 11 a.m. on Saturday when a tanker, reportedly descending a hilly section of the road, lost control and crashed into multiple vehicles, spilling its contents and triggering a massive fire.
Among the victims was Mr. Jeremiah Nwaji, his wife, six children—including a set of twins—his younger brother, a house help, and other dependents.
The family was traveling from Onitsha, Anambra State, to their hometown for the burial of their late father when their Sienna vehicle was engulfed in flames.
Speaking amid tears, the bereaved brother of the deceased, Mr. Ikechukwu Nwaji, lamented the irreplaceable loss.
“It is heartbreaking that we lost 11 members of our family in an avoidable tragedy. My eldest brother, who was the breadwinner, perished along with his wife, six children, and our last-born brother. They were traveling for our father’s burial, which was set for this Friday. Now, we are left with just two siblings,” he said.
Nwaji revealed that the Sienna vehicle was loaned to his late brother by a friend to accommodate their belongings for the trip.
He urged the government to reconsider the policy allowing tankers to operate during the day, stressing the dangers posed by such heavy-duty vehicles on the roads.
“We are pleading with President Bola Tinubu to reinstate the previous regulation that restricted tanker movements to nighttime. In developed countries, fuel-laden trucks do not operate under conditions that endanger other road users. The government must act now to prevent more families from experiencing this kind of tragedy,” he added.
Similarly, the bereaved sister, Mrs. Chiamaka Onyibe, described her late brother as the family’s pillar of support.
“He was the one taking care of my children’s school fees since I lost my husband. With his death, we have lost our divine helper,” she said.
The late Jeremiah Nwaji was reportedly a classmate of Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru, from the 2004 academic set.
