The Federal Road Safety Corps has confirmed the death of 16 persons in a fatal road crash that occurred at Aku village along the Okene–Lokoja Road in Kogi State.
The accident, which happened around 9:20 p.m. on Thursday, also left six other passengers with varying degrees of injuries.
Kogi State Sector Commander of the FRSC, Lawan Fagge, disclosed this in a statement issued on Friday, describing the incident as a tragic but avoidable accident.
According to him, the lone crash involved a white commercial Toyota Hiace bus with registration number BUS 17 ZD travelling from Jos to Lagos.
Fagge said a total of 22 persons were involved in the crash, comprising 21 male adults and one female adult.
He explained that 16 victims — 15 men and one woman — died on the spot, while the six surviving passengers sustained injuries and were rushed to nearby hospitals for treatment.
“One of the rescued victims was taken to the Specialist Hospital, Lokoja, while a the remaining five injured passengers are currently receiving treatment at Osara Hospital,” he stated.
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The FRSC commander revealed that preliminary findings from survivors pointed to fatigue and excessive speeding as the major causes of the crash.
He lamented that the tragedy could have been prevented if the driver had rested before continuing the journey.
“This crash was avoidable. Drivers should avoid embarking on long night journeys without adequate rest. The driver could have stopped over at a park to rest before proceeding,” Fagge said.
He warned motorists against over-speeding and driving under physical stress, noting that both factors remain major contributors to road accidents across the country.
The sector commander also sympathised with the families of the deceased and wished the injured passengers a speedy recovery.
The latest accident adds to growing concerns over recurring fatal crashes on major highways across Nigeria, especially involving commercial transport vehicles operating overnight journeys.