19 Burnt to Death in Kogi Auto Crash

Tragedy struck on the Okene-Lokoja Highway in Kogi State as 19 people were burnt to death in a horrific auto crash on Sunday. The incident, which occurred at the Okene Bypass, involved a collision between a Dangote Cement truck and a Toyota Hiace bus, resulting in a deadly inferno.

According to Assistant Corps Marshal Jonas Agwu, the Public Education Officer of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), the crash happened due to a wrongful overtaking maneuver by the Dangote truck driver. The Toyota bus, traveling from Kano, was on its lane when the truck, coming from Port Harcourt, attempted to overtake another vehicle, leading to a head-on collision with the bus.

The impact caused an intense fire that trapped the bus passengers. It took FRSC operatives three hours to rescue two survivors from the wreckage, battling through the flames to reach them. Tragically, 19 of the 22 people involved in the crash lost their lives, with only one injured.

Agwu explained that the two survivors who escaped without injury had complied with traffic regulations by wearing seatbelts, which likely saved their lives. The bodies of the victims have been taken to the Okene General Hospital.

The FRSC has assured the public that the driver of the Dangote truck will face prosecution, in line with directives from the Corps Marshal, Alhaji Dauda Ali-Biu. Ali-Biu has previously called for stronger collaboration between the judiciary, transport unions, and other stakeholders to ensure stricter enforcement of road safety regulations and reduce such tragic accidents.

The FRSC urges all road users to adhere to traffic rules and regulations to avoid such catastrophic events in the future.