LAGOS, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)-Tragedy struck on Sunday as 13 individuals lost their lives in a fatal auto crash in Kogi State, with two others sustaining injuries, according to the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).
The Kogi FRSC Sector Commander, Samuel Oyedeji, revealed that the accident occurred near Obajana Market along the Obajana-Lokoja Road in Lokoja Local Government Area.
He said that the crash, involved a commercial Sharon bus and an articulated cement truck.
The sector commander explained that the Sharon bus was stationary behind a truck near the market, allowing passengers to make purchases, when the cement truck brake failed and collided with it from behind around 7:30 pm.
Oyedeji said: “And that as soon as the truck ran into the bus, it immediately went into flame and burnt virtually all the passengers inside it.
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“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.”
Oyedeji expressed concern over the refusal of hospitals in Kogi State to accept the burnt bodies, indicating the possibility of a mass burial if no relatives claim them.
The Sector Commander, expressing the incident as “very sad and unfortunate”, urged motorists to be cautious about speeding and neglecting vehicle maintenance. He emphasized the importance of regularly inspecting vehicles before traveling to prevent road accidents.
NAN