TEN people have lost their lives in a devastating road accident on the Saapade bridge along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway, with six others sustaining injuries.
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has confirmed that the fatal collision occurred on Monday, involving a white Sinotruk truck with an unknown registration number and a white Toyota Hiace bus bearing registration number EKY 290 YM.
According to Afolabi Odunsin, Public Relations Officer of the Ogun State Sector Command of the FRSC, a total of 18 individuals were caught up in the crash. The victims comprised 15 adult males, two adult females, and one male child.
In a statement that has sent shockwaves through the community, Mr Odunsin revealed: “Sadly, 10 persons lost their lives, comprising nine adult males and one male child, while six persons – four adult males and two adult females – sustained varying degrees of injuries. Two adult males escaped unhurt.”
Preliminary investigations have pointed to a series of traffic violations as the root cause of the tragedy. The Corps stated that speeding, wrongful overtaking, and dangerous driving were contributing factors to the collision.
In a particularly alarming detail, 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.
Emergency response teams from the FRSC arrived promptly at the scene and evacuated the injured victims to Victory Hospital in Ogere for medical treatment. The deceased were transported to FOS Mortuary in Ipara.
The Nigeria Police Force’s Ishara Division has taken custody of the crashed vehicles, with arrangements underway for their evacuation.
Sector Commander Issues Stern Warning
Sector Commander Oludare Ogunjobi has extended his condolences to the families of the deceased and expressed his wishes for a speedy recovery to those injured.
However, he issued a strongly-worded warning to 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 reiterated that road users must 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,” the Commander emphasised.
