26 die in Kogi, Benue in auto crashes

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) on Monday confirmed that no fewer than 19 persons died and eight others were injured in an auto crash, which occurred on Sunday along Lokoja-Obajana Road. Mr Kumar Tsukwam, state Sector Commander of the corps confirmed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lokoja. Tsukwam said that […]

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) on Monday confirmed that no fewer than 19 persons died and eight others were injured in an auto crash, which occurred on Sunday along Lokoja-Obajana Road.

Mr Kumar Tsukwam, state Sector Commander of the corps confirmed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lokoja.

Tsukwam said that some of the survivors sustained bruises, cuts, dislocations, fractures, and fire burns.

He said the fatal accident occurred at Gadabiu community along the Lokoja-Obajana Road in Lokoja Local Government Area of the state around 4 pm on Sunday.

He revealed that among the 19 burnt to death were five children.

According to him, the fatal and very sad accident involved an articulated vehicle (Truck) and a Toyota Hummer Bus heading to Abuja from the South.

He said it was a head-on collision when the bus on high speed tried to overtake an articulated vehicle only to face an incoming articulated vehicle with no option.

“It was very unfortunate, because it was caused by speeding and wrongful overtaking and involved 27 persons with only eight survivors.

“Our rescue operation team and the police were able to rescue the eight survivors and rushed them to Fisayo Hospital, Obajana, for immediate medical attention.”

Meanwhile, the Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Shehu Mohammed, noted that the burnt victims were taken to Obajana Central Mosque for burial in line with Islamic rites.

He implored commuters to take their destinies in their hands by waking up as well as speaking up against dangerous and reckless driving in whichever way possible.

Kogi State governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo, has expressed sorrow over the tragic road accident that claimed the lives of 19 persons, including five children, and left eight others injured along the Lokoja-Obajana Road of the state in the early hours of Monday.

Governor Ododo described the incident as a devastating loss, not only to the families of the victims but to the entire state, given the scale of the tragedy.

The governor, through his Special Adviser on Media, Ismaila Isah, called for stricter enforcement of traffic regulations and discipline by road users.

Commending the efforts of the FRSC and the Nigeria Police in responding swiftly to the accident and rescuing the survivors, the governor condoled with the bereaved families and prayed for the speedy recovery of those injured who are currently receiving treatment in hospitals in the state.

He called for a sustained public education campaign on road safety and the dangers of excessive speed, as well as enhanced coordination among emergency response agencies.

Relatedly, no fewer than seven people have died in a lone accident involving a truck loaded with cement along the Katsina Ala–Zaki Biam road in Benue State.

Witnesses said the truck, bearing Dangote Group’s inscription and carrying 15 passengers along with 600 bags of cement, was en route to Zaki Biam when the accident occurred.

One of the witnesses, who identified himself as Dandy, said the truck was speeding when it hit a pothole, lost control, and overturned.

“The truck was loaded with cement and had 15 people on board. It lost control after hitting a pothole and crashed. Seven people died on the spot, six others sustained various degrees of injuries, while two escaped unhurt,” Dandy said.

Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Benue State, Steve Ayodele, confirmed the incident in a phone conversation with our correspondent in Makurdi.

Ayodele said the crash occurred on Saturday around 11am and involved 15 male adults.

“Seven persons were confirmed dead, six injured, and two others escaped unhurt. The road has since been cleared for free flow of traffic,” he added.

The Corps Commander added that the injured were evacuated immediately to hospital in the area for treatment.

From Tijani Labaran (Lokoja), Maureen Onochie (Abuja) &  Hope Abah, Makurdi