A horrific road traffic crash along the Kabba–Odo Ape Road in Kabba-Bunu Local Government Area of Kogi State has claimed the lives of six persons, leaving two others battling for survival with severe injuries.
Reacting to the tragic disaster which occurred on Saturday, the Kogi State Government expressed deep sorrow and commiserated with the families of the victims.
In an official press statement issued in Lokoja on Sunday, the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Femi Fanwo, conveyed the profound grief of Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo, describing the sudden loss of lives as agonizing, painful, and unfortunate.
The fatal crash, involving a heavy-duty truck and a commercial passenger vehicle, plunged the local community into mourning as rescue operators rushed to the scene. The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) confirmed that six passengers died on the spot from the impact, while two survivors sustained varying degrees of injuries. The bodies of the deceased have since been deposited at the General Hospital in Kabba.
Fanwo stated that Governor Ododo shares in the immense grief of the bereaved families and affected communities during this dark period. He prayed for God to grant eternal repose to the souls of the departed and give their loved ones the spiritual strength to bear the tragic loss, while wishing the hospitalized victims a swift and total recovery.
Distressed by preliminary reports from the FRSC identifying excessive speed as the primary cause of the crash, the Kogi State Government issued a stern warning to motorists navigating highways across the state. Fanwo cautioned drivers against dangerous overtaking, driving while fatigued, and blatant disregard for speed bounds, emphasizing that such reckless habits repeatedly turn ordinary journeys into disastrous carnage.
To prevent further loss of lives on the highway, the Commissioner called on the FRSC to immediately intensify strict enforcement against over-speeding across all inter-state corridors in Kogi. He urged the safety agency to strengthen public enlightenment campaigns and step up physical roadside monitoring to aggressively deter motorists from exceeding lawful speed limits.
Fanwo highlighted that the charge to the FRSC is imperative to complement ongoing state efforts aimed at curbing road mishaps. He reiterated that the administration of Governor Ododo remains fully committed to working alongside relevant security and regulatory agencies to ensure maximum safety on Kogi roads.
Appealing for a immediate change in driver mindset, the Commissioner reminded all road users that no destination or schedule is worth gambling with human lives, urging drivers to exercise patience, discipline, and strict compliance with traffic regulations at all times.
