13 passengers burnt to death as truck rams into Abuja-bound bus in Kogi
In a car accident in Kogi State on Monday, two people were hurt and thirteen people perished, according to the Federal Road Safety Corps.
According to Mr. Samuel Oyedeji, the Kogi FRSC Sector Commander, the accident happened on Sunday, March 31, 2024, at 7:30 p.m.
He revealed that the accident happened near Obajana Market on Obajana-Lokoja Road in the state’s Lokoja Local Government Area. It involved a commercial Sharon bus and an articulated cement truck.
According to the sector commander, the cement truck lost its brakes and collided with the Sharon bus from behind when it was following it around the market for passengers to make purchases.
As soon as the truck rammed into the bus, it immediately went into flame and burnt virtually all the passengers inside it,” he said.
“Also burnt were the bus, two trucks and a motorcycle
“The bus was reportedly heading to Abuja from the southern part of the country
“Our personnel, who were on rescue operations with Red Cross Nigeria and Police officers, couldn’t save the situation due the fierceness of the fire
“But the charred remains of the affected persons were collected while the two injured persons have been taken to Fisayo Hospital, Obajana for medical attention,” he added.
Oyedeji expressed worry that no hospital in Kogi agreed to take the charred bodies for keep, which might force the authorities to give them a massive burial if no relation came around.
The sector commander, who described the incident as “very sad and unfortunate,” cautioned motorists against speeding and poor maintenance of their vehicles.
According to him, motorists should always check their vehicles to ensure everything is in order before embarking on a journey to avoid road crashes.