The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has confirmed the death of seven persons in a tragic road accident along the Okene–Osara–Lokoja Highway in Kogi State.
ARISE News gathered that the crash occurred when a commercial Siena bus reportedly rammed into a stationary heavy-duty truck undergoing repairs in Osara. Seven people lost their lives, while three others sustained varying degrees of injuries.
Speaking to journalists in Lokoja on Monday, the Kogi State Sector Commander of the FRSC, Lawal Fagge, said the ill-fated bus departed Auchi in Edo State and was heading to Abuja, carrying passengers travelling to different destinations, including Abaji in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). He attributed the crash to excessive speeding, driver fatigue, and a burst tyre.
According to Fagge, six passengers in the Siena bus died at the scene, while the motor boy of the parked truck also lost his life. The deceased have been deposited at the morgue, while the three injured victims were rescued by FRSC personnel and taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.
“The fatal crash occurred along the Okene–Osara–Lokoja Road. The Siena bus carrying passengers from Auchi to Abuja suffered a tyre burst due to excessive speeding before crashing into a stationary truck undergoing repairs. Six occupants of the bus and the truck’s motor boy died, while three others sustained injuries. Our rescue team responded immediately and evacuated the injured to a nearby hospital for medical attention,” Fagge said.
The FRSC Sector Commander urged motorists to avoid excessive speeding, ensure their vehicles are roadworthy, remain alert behind the wheel, and exercise caution around broken-down or stationary vehicles to reduce avoidable crashes.
The latest tragedy has once again raised concerns over road safety along the busy Okene–Lokoja corridor, a major highway linking southern and northern Nigeria. The route has witnessed several fatal accidents in recent years, prompting renewed calls for stricter adherence to traffic regulations and enhanced road safety measures.
