A devastating accident in Kogi state has left a community in mourning after four schoolchildren lost their lives on Monday, December 1. The tragedy occurred in Egbolo community, Igalamela-Odolu local government area, when a truck transporting the pupils to school plunged into a river.
Details of the Fatal Incident
The ill-fated truck, which was loaded with building materials, had offered a ride to students trekking the long distance to Ofuloko Primary School. According to community youth leader Usman Idrisu, the vehicle developed mechanical issues shortly after crossing a bridge. "The truck could not climb the hill after it crossed the bridge. It rolled backwards before plunging into the river," Idrisu explained. The lone accident claimed the lives of four young pupils, casting a pall of grief over Egbolo.
Community Grief and Calls for Action
The incident has sparked anguish and frustration among residents. A grieving parent, who lost his son in the accident, directly accused the government of neglecting the Egbolo community for years. He issued a passionate plea for urgent intervention to prevent similar tragedies in the future. This sentiment underscores a broader concern about infrastructure and safety in the area, where children often face perilous journeys to access education.
A Broader National Crisis on Nigerian Roads
This heartbreaking event in Kogi is not an isolated case but part of a grim national statistic. In a separate incident on the Lokoja-Okene road, six people died and thirteen were injured. That accident involved a bus carrying passengers from the 2025 International Day of Persons with Disabilities event, as confirmed by Kogi State Commissioner for Information, Kingsley Fanwo.
Alarmingly, data from the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) paints a dire picture for 2025. Corps Marshal Shehu Mohammed reported that between January and September, 3,433 persons were killed and 22,162 injured in 6,858 road crashes across Nigeria. The FRSC identified key causes as driver fatigue, overloading, the dangerous practice of conveying persons in haulage vehicles, and travelling with fuel in plastic containers.
The Kogi tragedy also follows other recent road fatalities in the state, including the death of Federal University Lokoja lecturer, Mrs Kemi Emmanuel, who was killed by a speeding truck in Felele. The convergence of these incidents highlights a critical and urgent need for comprehensive road safety measures, better vehicle maintenance enforcement, and improved rural infrastructure to protect all Nigerians, especially its most vulnerable children.
