In a tragic incident on Sunday along the Okene-Lokoja Highway in Kogi, at least 19 individuals lost their lives in a harrowing auto collision on the Okene Bypass. According to Jonas Agwu, the Public Education Officer of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), the accident involved a Dangote Cement truck and a Toyota Hiace bus. Agwu reported from Abuja that despite the challenging circumstances of an accompanying inferno, FRSC operatives worked tirelessly for three hours to rescue two survivors.
Agwu clarified that the Toyota bus, en route from Kano, was in its designated lane when a Dangote truck, traveling from Port Harcourt, recklessly attempted to overtake another vehicle, resulting in a head-on collision with the bus. The intensity of the impact led to a devastating inferno that claimed the lives of the majority of the 22 individuals involved, all of whom were male.
Tragically, 19 of the 22 victims perished in the crash, with one sustaining injuries. The fortunate survival of the two rescued individuals, Agwu emphasized, was attributed to their adherence to traffic regulations regarding seatbelt usage. The deceased were respectfully transported to the Okene General Hospital.
Assuring accountability, Agwu affirmed that the driver of the Dangote truck would face legal prosecution, aligning with directives from the Corps Marshal, Alhaji Dauda Ali-Biu. Ali-Biu, previously urging collaboration from the judiciary, transport unions, and other stakeholders, emphasized the necessity for swift and effective prosecution to restore order on Nigerian roads.
