On the 27th of October, 2023, an accident occurred at Warehouse Junction in Owerri, Imo State, involving a fully loaded trailer transporting diesel from Port Harcourt to Enugu. The incident was a result of a brake failure during the early hours of the day.
Upon receiving the alert, the newly appointed Acting Head of Operations for the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in Owerri, Mr. Igwe Nnamdi Chukwudi, promptly initiated a coordinated response involving various relevant parties, including a search and rescue team dispatched to the accident site.
According to the information gathered, the trailer experienced brake failure, leading to the driver’s loss of control. This resulted in the blockage of the road and the spillage of its cargo onto the heavily trafficked route, causing disruptions to vehicular movement. To manage the situation, the area was secured, and traffic was redirected to alternative routes. Additionally, efforts were made to safely transfer and remove the disabled truck from the scene.
Fortunately, no casualties were reported in this incident. Responding agencies included the federal and state fire services, the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps, the Federal Road Safety Corps, the police, and NEMA.