The Ipara Remo car racing tragedy

POVERTY does not kill; it is being overjoyous that does, says an ancient proverb. Often in this clime, many, particularly the so-called exuberant youths, engage in reckless endeavours that put their lives and those of fellow citizens in peril, damning the consequences. In the Ipara area of Remo, Ogun State, tragedy struck on Monday, August 11 when a gang of lawless youths reportedly sent themselves and, sadly, innocent citizens to untimely graves in an incident whose details are as gory as they are distressing. According to reports, certain suspected internet fraudsters, otherwise known as Yahoo boys, had organised a car racing contest with a N30,000 wager for the winner. The incident, which reportedly occurred on Monday, August 11, left a total of five persons dead. Said a resident of the area: “One of the cars lost control and rammed a shop, killing two people on the spot, and the occupants of the vehicle sustained varying degrees of injury before they were rescued by emergency responders.” Videos of the incident showed the occupants of the vehicle trapped inside it, even as the bodies of the bystanders hit by the vehicle lay lifeless on the ground, surrounded by wailing crowds. The building housing the shop affected by the crash also suffered significant damage. It was indeed a horrible spectacle.

According to the spokesperson for the Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency, Babatunde Akinbiyi, the driver of the vehicle died on the spot while the two other occupants sustained varying degrees of injury and were taken to different hospitals where, sadly, they breathed their last. His words: “At about 13:40 hrs on 11/08/2025, a lone fatal accident occurred near the Owolowo area, Ipara Remo. The accident involved an unregistered Lexus car whose driver’s name was unknown and two other occupants, both male, in his vehicle. The accident occurred when the driver was heading outwards Fidiwo, but on getting to the aforementioned point, while on a high speed, he lost control of his vehicle and rammed one Akeem Ashiru, male, and one Shina Badejo by the roadside. As a result of the impact, the driver, Akeem Ashiru, and Shina Badejo died at the scene. Two other occupants were taken to the Isara State Hospital, while one also died while receiving treatment. The other one was referred to OASTH Sagamu, where he also succumbed to his injuries on Tuesday.”

This story is, to say the least, profoundly sad. It is distressing to realise that a gang of youths engaged in a patently dangerous adventure that claimed multiple lives. No doubt, the incident sowed sorrow, tears and agony into the affected families and altered the course of many lives. If this incident illustrates anything, it is the danger of living a reckless and immodest life. In all probability, the youths involved in this tragic story owned a vehicle, a luxury for many of their compatriots, but they then chose to use it in a way that was clearly illegal, probably out of sheer excitement at their fortune. And so, out of a mere bet, they hit the road at breakneck speed, playing sport with their lives. That is unfortunate.

Why would a group of youths endanger their lives and those of others with car racing? Even as a sport, car racing has rules and regulations. In countries where it is a sport, certain safety requirements remain non-negotiable. They include the use of approved helmets, fire-resistant race suit covering the body entirely, protective gloves, five-point harness seat belts, and roll cage. The regulations specify the weight of those cars and even the kind of tyres that should be used. Driver behaviour is heavily regulated and the rules cover fair and unfair overtaking maneuvers, speed limits and procedures for pit stops, with penalties for unsportsmanlike conduct like aggressive driving or endangering others. In Nigeria, however, car racing is not an approved sport, and even if it were, it would certainly be heavily regulated. Car racing is not permitted on public roads due to safety concerns and traffic regulations, and agencies like the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and the Nigeria Police are tasked with ensuring that violators face severe consequences.

But despite the obvious illegality, Nigerian youths actually engage in forms of car racing in some major cities, putting innocent lives at risk. And unfortunately, as in this case, the loss of innocent people is a real possibility. That is why, as we have always canvassed, parents owe themselves a bounden duty to give their children proper upbringing. Striving to ensure that one’s children and wards are raised properly may be increasingly sounding like an old-fashioned idea, but we have found no alternative to it in terms of character moulding. It is clear that many of the problems confronting the country are rooted in the loss of the time-tested family values and ethics, and it is time society took stock of its failures and changed course. Parents who do their best to give their children sound moral upbringing are more likely to create a better society and peace of mind for themselves than parents who are perpetually bogged down by the pursuit of mundane things and have no time to give their children a reality check.

There is, of course, the real possibility that the car racers in this case were also under the influence. But whether or not that happened in the current case, it is a fact that drug abuse is a scourge among Nigerian youths and must be combated decisively.

We are saddened by the car racing tragedy in Ipara Remo. We urge the Ogun State government to restate its opposition to car racing stunts and ensure that violators face the wrath of the law. May the souls of the victims rest in sweet repose.

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