The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has confirmed that at least 19 people lost their lives and eight others sustained injuries in a tragic auto crash that occurred on Sunday along the Lokoja-Obajana road in Kogi State.
Speaking to journalists in Lokoja, the state Sector Commander of the FRSC, Kumar Tsukwam, said the accident took place around 4:00 p.m. at Gadabiu community in Lokoja Local Government Area.
Tsukwam revealed that among the deceased were five children. The crash involved a Toyota Hummer bus traveling from the southern part of the country to Abuja and an articulated truck.
According to the commander, the bus was speeding and attempted to overtake another truck when it collided head-on with an oncoming articulated vehicle. The collision resulted in a fire, causing fatal injuries to many of the passengers.
“The accident was caused by excessive speed and dangerous overtaking,” Tsukwam said. “Out of the 27 people involved, only eight survived with various degrees of injuries including cuts, dislocations, fractures, and burns.”
He noted that FRSC personnel, in collaboration with the police, quickly mobilised to rescue the injured and transported them to Fisayo Hospital in Obajana for urgent medical care.
Tsukwam expressed deep concern over the frequent disregard for traffic rules and warned that highways should not be treated as race tracks. He urged motorists to drive responsibly, avoid overspeeding, and obey all traffic regulations.
He concluded by emphasizing the need for collective efforts from road users to reduce the rate of road accidents and fatalities across the country.
