No fewer than 10 people lost their lives, while six others sustained varying degrees of injuries in a tragic road crash that occurred on Sunday night at Sapade Bridge along the Ibadan-Lagos Expressway in Ogun State.
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Ogun Sector Command, confirmed the incident in a statement issued on Monday by its Public Education Officer, Superintendent Route Commander Afolabi Odunsi.
According to the FRSC, the fatal crash occurred at about 8:05 p.m. and involved a white Sinotruk (CNHTC) Dangote truck with an unknown registration number and a white Toyota Hiace commercial bus with registration number EKY 290 YM.
The corps disclosed that 18 persons were involved in the accident, comprising 15 adult males, two adult females and one male child.
It stated that 10 victims—nine adult males and one male child—died in the crash, while six others, including four adult males and two adult females, sustained injuries. Two adult male occupants escaped unhurt.
Preliminary investigations by the FRSC identified speeding, wrongful overtaking and dangerous driving as the immediate causes of the crash.
According to the statement, the truck driver allegedly reversed on the highway after missing his route, creating a dangerous obstruction for other motorists.
“The truck driver reportedly reversed on the highway after missing his direction, while the approaching bus, travelling at high speed, attempted to navigate through the limited space available and rammed into the truck,” the statement read.
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The FRSC said its rescue team promptly arrived at the scene and evacuated the injured victims to Victory Hospital, Ogere, for treatment, while the bodies of the deceased were deposited at the FOS Mortuary, Ipara.
The command added that officers of the Nigeria Police Force from the Ishara Division had taken custody of the accident vehicles pending further investigation, while arrangements had been made to clear the wreckage from the highway.
Reacting to the tragedy, the Ogun State Sector Commander of the FRSC, Corps Commander Oludare Ogunjobi, expressed condolences to the families of those who lost their loved ones and wished the injured a speedy recovery.
“Our heartfelt condolences go to the families of the deceased. We also wish those receiving treatment a quick recovery,” Ogunjobi said.
He urged motorists, particularly commercial drivers and truck operators, to avoid reversing on highways and desist from other dangerous driving practices capable of causing fatal accidents.
“Motorists, especially commercial drivers and truck operators, must avoid reversing on highways, excessive speeding, dangerous driving and other traffic violations that continue to claim innocent lives. Missing a route is never an excuse for endangering other road users,” he warned.
The sector commander further advised drivers to obey traffic regulations, maintain safe speeds and make use of designated turning points whenever they miss their routes.
He stressed that strict compliance with traffic rules remains essential to reducing avoidable road crashes and preventing needless loss of lives on Nigeria’s highways.