At least 19 individuals were tragically killed in a vehicular accident on the Okene-Lokoja Highway in Kogi State, according to the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC). The incident, which occurred on the Okene Bypass on Sunday, involved a collision between a Dangote Cement truck and a Toyota Hiace bus.
Jonas Agwu, the Public Education Officer for the FRSC, reported from Abuja that the Toyota bus was en route from Kano and maintaining its proper lane when it was struck by the Dangote truck. The truck, travelling from Port Harcourt, was attempting to overtake another vehicle inappropriately, leading to a head-on collision with the bus.
The severe impact caused both vehicles to burst into flames, resulting in the deaths of 19 of the 22 male passengers involved. The inferno, which took FRSC operatives three hours to control, also left one individual injured, while two survivors were rescued unharmed due to their adherence to seatbelt use.
The bodies of the deceased have been transported to Okene General Hospital. Mr. Agwu confirmed that the driver of the Dangote truck would face prosecution as per the directives of the Corps Marshal, Dauda Ali-Biu. Ali-Biu has previously emphasized the importance of collaboration between the judiciary, transport unions, and other stakeholders to enhance road safety and ensure effective prosecution to uphold traffic laws.
This devastating incident highlights ongoing issues with road safety in Nigeria, prompting renewed calls for stricter adherence to traffic regulations and more rigorous enforcement measures to prevent such tragedies in the future.