- 25 Killed, 23 Injured In Separate Road Crashes In Kwara, Ogun
- Driver Fatigue, Dangerous Driving Blamed
- FRSC Warns Motorists
No fewer than 25 people have been confirmed dead, while 23 others sustained varying degrees of injuries in two separate road crashes along the Ogbomoso–Oko Olowo axis of the Ilorin-Jebba Expressway in Kwara State and the Ibadan-Lagos Expressway in Ogun State.
Eko Hot Blog reports that in Kwara State, a lone accident involving an articulated DAF XF truck with registration number GWL 274 XC occurred at about 2:32 a.m. along the Muslim Cemetery area of the Ogbomoso–Oko Olowo route.
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The Kwara State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Kabiru Kazeem, confirmed that 48 persons were involved in the crash.
According to him, 17 people sustained injuries, including fractures, dislocations and bruises, while 16 others escaped unhurt. The driver, identified as Nasiru Muhammed, was said to have fallen asleep behind the wheel, causing the truck to veer off the road and overturn.
Kazeem said the injured victims were taken to Arewa Medical Centre and Baki Hospital for treatment, while the bodies of those who died were released to their families and the Sarkin Hausawa of Oko Olowo in Moro Local Government Area.
He added that rescue operations by FRSC personnel were still ongoing as of the time of filing this report, with officials searching for victims believed to be trapped beneath the truck.
In a separate accident in Ogun State, nine people lost their lives while six others sustained injuries in a crash at Sapade Bridge along the Ibadan-Lagos Expressway on Sunday evening.
The spokesperson for the FRSC Ogun State Command, Florence Afolabi Odunsi, said the crash, which occurred at about 8:05 p.m., involved a white Sinotruk truck and a white Toyota Hiace bus.
She said 18 people, comprising 15 adult males, two adult females and a male child, were involved in the accident.
According to Odunsi, nine adult males and the male child died, while four adult males and two adult females sustained injuries. Two other occupants escaped without injuries.
She attributed the crash to excessive speed, dangerous driving and wrongful overtaking, explaining that the truck driver allegedly reversed on the highway after missing his route, while the speeding bus rammed into the truck while attempting to pass through the limited available space.
Odunsi said FRSC personnel rescued the victims and evacuated the injured to Victory Hospital, Ogere, while the deceased were deposited at the FOS Mortuary in Ipara.
She added that operatives of the Nigeria Police Force, Ishara Division, had taken custody of the crashed vehicles after they were removed from the highway.
Reacting to the incidents, the Ogun State Sector Commander, Corps Commander Oludare Ogunjobi, sympathised with the families of the deceased and wished the injured a speedy recovery.
He also urged motorists, especially commercial drivers and truck operators, to avoid speeding, dangerous driving, reversing on highways and other traffic violations capable of endangering lives.
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