By Stephen Simon
No fewer than 10 persons have been confirmed dead, while six others sustained varying degrees of injuries in a fatal road crash involving a commercial bus and a truck at Sapade Bridge along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway in Ogun State.
The accident occurred at about 8:05 p.m. on Sunday and involved a white Sinotruk truck bearing a Dangote inscription and a Toyota Hiace commercial bus with Lagos registration number EKY 290 YM. According to the Ogun State Sector Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), 18 persons were involved in the crash, comprising 15 adult males, two adult females and one male child.
FRSC spokesperson, Superintendent Route Commander Afolabi Odunsi, said 10 victims — nine adult males and one male child — lost their lives, while six others, including four adult males and two adult females, sustained injuries. Two other passengers escaped unhurt.
Preliminary investigations by the FRSC indicated that the crash resulted from a combination of dangerous driving practices. The agency said the truck driver allegedly reversed on the highway after missing his route, while the speeding commercial bus attempted to squeeze through the limited space before ramming into the truck. The corps also cited speeding, wrongful overtaking and dangerous driving as contributing factors.
Rescue officials evacuated the injured victims to Victory Hospital in Ogere for treatment, while the bodies of the deceased were deposited at the FOS Mortuary in Ipara. The damaged vehicles were subsequently handed over to the Nigeria Police for further investigation and evacuation from the scene.
Reacting to the tragedy, Ogun FRSC Sector Commander, Corps Commander Oludare Ogunjobi, expressed condolences to the families of the deceased and wished the injured a speedy recovery. He urged motorists, particularly commercial drivers and truck operators, to avoid reversing on highways, speeding and other traffic violations, stressing that adherence to traffic regulations and the use of designated turning points after missing a route are essential to preventing avoidable crashes and saving lives.
The latest incidents come amid renewed tensions over immigration in South Africa, where migrants have increasingly been blamed for unemployment, crime and economic hardship. Nigeria’s government warned that if the attacks continue unchecked, it reserves the right to consider further diplomatic measures while continuing to press for justice and the protection of its citizens living in the country.
