32 killed in Kwara, Ogun, Kogi road crashes

•FRSC blames driver fatigue, dangerous driving

IN Ilorin, Kwara State capital, a total of 15 persons, all males, reportedly lost their lives in an auto crash at the Muslim cemetery, along Ogbomoso-Oko Olowo route on Ilorin-Jebba expressway.

A Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) report reports that the lone accident, which occurred at about 2:32 am on Monday, involved a trailer vehicle DAF XF with registration number: GWL274XC, which was carrying a total of 48 people (all males).

Seventeen people sustained varying degrees of injury.

It attributed the cause of the accident to fatigue on the part of the driver, adding that the types of injury sustained include fracture, dislocation and bruises.

The auto crash was confirmed by the FRSC Sector Commander, Kabiru Babatunde Kazeem.

Kazeem said the injured victims had been taken to Arewa Medical Centre and Baki Hospital for medical attention, while the corpses had been handed over to the representative of the families and the Sarkin Hausawa, Oko Olowo in the Moro Local Government Area of Kwara State.

In Ogun, 10 persons were reported killed, while several others were injured in a road crash at Sapade Bridge, along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, in Ogun State on Sunday night.

The FRSC, Ogun Sector Command, said the accident occurred at about 8:05 p.m. and involved a Dangote Sinotruk truck and a Toyota Hiace commercial bus.

According to the Sector Public Education Officer, Superintendent Route Commander Afolabi Odunsi, a total of 18 persons were involved in the crash, comprising 15 adult males, two adult females and one male child.

Ten persons (nine adult males and one male child) died in the accident, while six others, made up of four adult males and two adult females, sustained injuries.

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The FRSC attributed the crash to speed violation, wrongful overtaking and dangerous driving.

According to the statement from the FRSC, the truck driver allegedly reversed on the highway after missing his route, while the approaching commercial bus, said to be travelling at high speed, rammed the truck.

FRSC rescue teams evacuated the injured victims to the Victory Hospital, Ogere, for treatment, while the bodies of the deceased were deposited at the FOS Mortuary, Ipara.

The corps added that personnel of the Nigeria Police Force from the Ishara Division had taken custody of the accident vehicles, while the obstruction had been cleared to ensure the free flow of traffic.

Reacting to the incident, the Ogun Sector Commander, Corps Commander Oludare Ogunjobi, commiserated with the families of the deceased and wished the injured a speedy recovery.

He also cautioned motorists, especially commercial drivers and truck operators, against reversing on highways, excessive speeding, dangerous driving and other traffic violations.

In a similar development, no fewer than seven persons lost their lives, while three others sustained injuries in an accident that occurred along the Okene-Osara-Lokoja Highway in Kogi State.

The FRSC confirmed that the tragic incident involved a commercial Toyota Sienna bus and a stationary heavy-duty truck that was undergoing repairs in Osara.

The Kogi State Sector Commander of the FRSC, Lawal Fagge, told reported in Lokoja on Monday that the commercial bus was travelling from Auchi in Edo State to Abuja.

He attributed the crash to excessive speeding, driver fatigue and blowout, which caused the driver to lose control before ramming the parked truck.

According to him, six passengers aboard the Sienna bus died instantly, while the motor boy of the stationary truck also lost his life.

The three injured victims were rescued by FRSC personnel and taken to a nearby hospital for medical treatment, while the remains of the deceased were deposited at a morgue.

Fagge urged motorists to obey traffic regulations by avoiding excessive speeding, ensuring their vehicles are in good condition, remaining alert while driving and exercising caution when approaching broken-down or stationary vehicles.