Ten passengers have been killed at a police checkpoint at Amorji Lekwesi community in Umunneochi Local Government Area (LGA) of Abia State, along the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway on Thursday, when a trailer carrying a large container collided with a stationary 18-seater bus waiting for clearance.
According to a witness from the community, the trailer, traveling at high speed, failed to brake in time upon reaching the checkpoint, which is located after a hilly section of the road from the Leru end.
The trailer first struck the roadblock before the main checkpoint, then plowed into the bus loaded with passengers, resulting in multiple fatalities on the spot.
Several drivers and commuters, speaking on the incident, alleged widespread extortion and mistreatment at the checkpoint, and called upon police authorities to dismantle the checkpoint and thoroughly investigate the incident, which they believe could have been prevented.
Efforts to reach the Abia State Police Public Relations Officer for comment were unsuccessful as her phone line was unreachable at the time.
The Checkpoint at Amorji Lekwesi community is part of the numerous unduly unwinding major Police/Military/JTF Checkpoints that man the South East region which have become major extortion and humiliation joints for drivers and other road users.
They include the following:
- PDS Anara – Amaraku Road in Isiala Mbano LGA Imo State
- Akachi Junction, Aba – Owerri Expressway, Naze, Owerri North LGA Imo State
- Umuowa by Imo Airport Junction, Aba – Owerri Expressway, Umuowa, Ngor-Okpala LGA Imo State
- Ugwu Orji along Owerri – Onitsha Expressway, by Umunoha junction, Mbaitoli LGA Imo State
- Ogii-Isiokwe along Okigwe/Umuahia express road, Okigwe LGA. Imo State
- Umualumoke junction, Ugwuaku Road, along Okigwe-Umuahia express road, Okigwe LGA. Imo State
- Nunya junction along Okigwe-Umuahia express road, Isuikwuato LGA Abia State
- Leru-Ihube, opp. Camp of Faith Okigwe LGA, Imo State
- Okigwe-Uturu junction, along ABSU road, Okigwe LGA Imo State
- Beside ABSU gate Uturu, Isuikwuato LGA Abia State
- Acha junction, along Mile 2 and before mile 2 junction Ivo LGA, Ebonyi State.
- Amawel junction, Ubomini Town along Owerri – Orlu Road Mbaitoli LGA, Imo State
- Front of Abbott Boys Secondary School, along Owerri – Onitsha Expressway, Ihiala LGA, Anambra State
- Opposite Nkwerre Local Government Council Headquarters, Nkwerre LGA Imo State
- Umuikkaa Junction along Aba-Enugu Expressway Ishiala Ngwa South LGA Abia State
- Imo River Bridge, Owerrinta along Aba-Owerri Road Ishiala Ngwa South LGA, Abia State
- Tonimas Junction behind BICOZ Fast Food along Aba-Enugu Expressway Osisioma LGA, Abia State
- Awkuzu/Nteje Junction along Enugu -Onitsha Expressway, Anambra State
- Amansea/Ugwuoba Enugu -Onitsha old Road, Awka South LGA, Anambra State
- 3 Corner Junction, Amagunze, Nkanu East LGA, Enugu State
- New Kenyetta along Enugu – Okigwe Expressway Ugwuaji LGA Enugu State
- Ituku Military Check Point along Enugu -Okigwe Expressway, Ituku Isuawa, Agwu LGA, Enugu State
- Otu Amechi Agbani Link Road, Enugu South LGA, Enugu State
- Umuogba Ihe along Enugu – Okigwe Expressway, Agwu LGA, Enugu State
- Nnenwe Junction along Enugu – Okigwe Expressway, Agwu LGA, Enugu State
- Agwu Mgbowo Aki na Ukwa Junction along Enugu -Okigwe Expressway, Agwu LGA, Enugu State
- Abia – Enugu Boundary, along Enugu – Okigwe Expressway
- Better Life Junction along Enugu -Okigwe Expressway, Abia State
- Eluama – Isiukwuano beside Common Wealth Hotels Isiukwuano LGA, Abia State
- Front of Ehime Mbano Local Government Council Headquarters along Aba Branch – Umuahia Road, Umuezeala, Ehime Mbano LGA Imo State
- Ohafia/ Nguzu Junction, Abriba – Ohafia Road, Ohafia LGA, Abia State.
- Army Check Point Udi, Four Corner, Nkanu East LGA Enugu State
- Army Check Point Amodu, Nkanu West LGA, Enugu State
- Military Check Point adjacent to Timber Market, along Orlu – Owerri Road, Orlu LGA, Imo State
- Ekeahiara Junction, Ahiazu Mbaise LGA, Imo State
- Umulolo junction along Port Harcourt – Enugu Expressway, Okigwe LGA, Imo State
- Ihube Junction along Enugu – Port Harcourt Expressway, Okigwe LGA, Imo State
- Ihube Cashew Plantation, along Enugu – Port Harcourt Expressway, Okigwe LGA, Imo State
- Ihube/Isuochi Boundary along, Enugu – Port Harcourt Expressway, Okigwe LGA, Imo State
- Limca Junction by FGC, along Enugu – Port Harcourt Expressway, Okigwe LGA, Imo State
