By Abdullahi Olesin, Ibrahim Obansa, and IBRAHIM OBANSA and FEMI OYEWESO
At least 32 people have lost their lives in Kwara, Kogi and Ogun road crashes. A lone accident involving a truck along the Ilorin- Jebba expressway yesterday claimed the lives of 15 passengers.
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) also confirmed that seven persons lost their lives, while three others sustained injuries in a tragic road accident along the Okene–Osara–Lokoja Highway in Kogi State.
Also, at least 10 people have been confirmed dead, while six others were critically injured in an auto crash which occurred late Sunday evening along the Lagos – Ibadan Expressway.
LEADERSHIP gathered that the Ilorin-Jebba expressway fatal accident occurred at the Oko- Olowo- Ilorin section of the road at about 2.32 am.
The DAF truck with registration number GWL274XC was said to have carried 48 passengers.
The head of Oko- Olowo Outpost of the Kwara State Command of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Taofeeq Sanusi, confirmed the accident and the casualty figures.
He attributed the fatal accident to fatigue on the part of the truck driver, Nasiru Muhammed.
Sanusi said that the corpses of those who died in the accident had been handed over to the representatives of their families and Sarkin Hausawa of Oko-Olowo, while the injured were taken to hospitals for treatment.
He disclosed that the rescue operation was jointly carried out by the personnel of RS8.15 Oloru and RS8.1 Kwara( Oko- Olowo Outpost).
Sanusi said that the search for more victims buried under the load was ongoing, adding that the Sector Commander, Kabiru Kazeem, was at the scene of the accident to coordinate the rescue and recovery operation.
Meanwhile, the Kogi state fatal crash occurred on Monday at Osara when a commercial Siena bus reportedly rammed into a stationary heavy-duty truck that was undergoing repairs by the roadside.
Confirming the incident to journalists in Lokoja, the Kogi State Sector Commander of the FRSC, Lawal Fagge, said the ill-fated bus was travelling from Auchi in Edo State to Abuja, conveying passengers bound for different destinations, including Abaji in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Fagge attributed the accident to excessive speeding, driver fatigue and a tyre burst, which caused the driver to lose control before crashing into the parked truck.
According to him, six occupants of the Siena bus died instantly, while the truck’s motor boy also lost his life, bringing the death toll to seven.
He added that the deceased had been deposited at the morgue, while three injured victims were rescued by FRSC personnel and taken to a nearby hospital for medical treatment.
“The fatal crash occurred along the Okene–Osara–Lokoja Road. The Siena bus travelling from Auchi to Abuja suffered a tyre burst after excessive speeding, then crashed into a stationary truck undergoing repairs.
Six occupants of the bus and the truck’s motor boy died, while three others sustained injuries. Our rescue team responded promptly and evacuated the injured victims to a nearby hospital for medical attention,” Fagge said.
The FRSC Sector Commander urged motorists to avoid excessive speeding, ensure their vehicles are in good mechanical condition, remain alert while driving, and exercise caution when approaching broken-down or stationary vehicles.
The latest tragedy has again highlighted growing concerns over road safety along the busy Okene–Lokoja corridor, one of Nigeria’s major highways linking the southern and northern parts of the country.
The corridor has recorded several fatal crashes in recent years, prompting renewed calls for stricter compliance with traffic regulations, improved enforcement, and enhanced road safety measures.
The Lagos accident, which occurred at the Sapade Bridge in the Remo North Local Government Area, along the expressway, around 8: 05. p.m., involved a white Sinovo truck (CNHTC) with no registration number plate, but bearing a “Dangote” inscription and a white Toyota Hiace passenger bus with registration number (LAGOS) EKY 290 YM.
LEADERSHIP gathered that the white Toyota Hiace passenger bus, carrying 18 passengers, rammed into the Sinovo truck from the rear while the over 40-feet-long truck was allegedly “reversing on the highway after the driver had missed his direction”.
The Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Ogun Sector Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Afolabi Odunsi, who confirmed the crash, attributed the accident to overspeeding, wrongful overtaking, and dangerous driving.
Odunsi, who is an FRSC’s Superintendent Route Commander, explained that preliminary investigation “revealed that the crash was caused by speed violation (SPV), wrongful overtaking (WOV) and dangerous driving (DGD)”.
“The truck driver reportedly reversed on the highway after missing his direction, while the approaching bus, travelling at high speed, attempted to navigate through the limited space available and rammed into the truck”.
Giving the statistical analysis of the victims of the crash, Odunsi explained that those who died included nine male adults and one male child. In contrast, six others, four male adults and two females, sustained varying degrees of injuries.
Disclosing that two other male adults escaped unhurt, Odunsi said the FRSC rescue operatives “promptly evacuated” the injured victims to a private hospital in Ogere Remo for treatment. At the same time, the corpses of the deceased were deposited at the morgue of another private hospital in Ipara Remo.
“Personnel of the Nigeria Police Force, Ishara Division, have taken custody of the crashed vehicles, while arrangements have been made for their evacuation”.
“The Sector Commander, Corps Commander Oludare Ogunjobi, commiserates with the families of the deceased and wishes the injured a speedy recovery”.
“He strongly warns motorists, particularly commercial drivers and truck operators, against reversing on highways, excessive speeding, dangerous driving and other traffic violations that endanger lives”.
“The Ogun Sector Command reiterates that road users should always obey traffic rules, maintain safe speeds and use designated turning points whenever they miss their routes. These simple precautions can prevent needless loss of lives on our highways”.
