Ten people lost their lives and six others sustained injuries following a devastating collision between a truck and a commercial bus on the Ibadan to Lagos Expressway in Ogun State. The crash occurred at approximately 8:05 p.m. on Sunday at Saapade Bridge, involving a white Sinotruk truck and a white Toyota Hiace bus.
FRSC Confirms 18 Persons Involved in Fatal Collision
The Federal Road Safety Corps confirmed that 18 people were involved in the accident. The Public Education Officer of the FRSC Ogun Sector Command, Afolabi Odunsi, stated that the victims comprised 15 adult males, two adult females, and one male child. Nine adult males and one male child died in the crash, while six others—four adult males and two adult females—sustained varying degrees of injuries. Two adult male occupants escaped without injuries.
Preliminary Investigation Points to Speeding and Dangerous Driving
Odunsi revealed that preliminary findings linked the fatal crash to a combination of traffic violations. According to him, the crash was caused by speed violation, wrongful overtaking, and dangerous driving. The truck driver reportedly reversed on the highway after missing his direction, while the approaching bus, traveling at high speed, attempted to navigate through the limited space available and rammed into the truck.
Rescue Operations and Aftermath
FRSC rescue teams responded to the emergency and evacuated the injured victims to Victory Hospital in Ogere for treatment. The bodies of the deceased were deposited at FOS Mortuary in Ipara. Odunsi added that officers of the Nigeria Police Force from the Ishara Division took custody of the damaged vehicles, while arrangements were made to remove them from the highway. He confirmed that the obstruction had been cleared and normal traffic flow restored.
FRSC Commander Urges Motorists to Obey Traffic Regulations
The Ogun Sector Commander of the FRSC, Corps Commander Oludare Ogunjobi, expressed sympathy to the families of the deceased and wished those receiving treatment a quick recovery. He urged motorists, especially commercial drivers and truck operators, to avoid reversing on highways, excessive speeding, dangerous overtaking, and other risky practices that endanger lives. Ogunjobi advised drivers who miss their route to use approved turning points rather than attempting dangerous maneuvers, noting that compliance with traffic regulations remains essential to reducing avoidable road crashes.
Recent Spate of Road Accidents in Nigeria
This tragedy follows another deadly crash in Gombe and Plateau states, where trailer accidents claimed at least 19 lives within 24 hours, raising renewed concerns over speeding and reckless driving on major highways during the festive travel period. In Gombe State, nine people died in a collision involving a trailer and a Sharon bus on the Kaltungo Cham road, as confirmed by the Federal Road Safety Corps.
