On Wednesday evening, a tragic accident occurred along the Ilorin-Jebba Expressway in the Oko Olowo area of Kwara State, claiming no fewer than 15 lives. Several others sustained varying degrees of injuries in the multiple-vehicle crash.
According to eyewitness reports, the collision involved two vehicles: a trailer with registration number AYE 218 XC and a commercial vehicle with registration number TTN 556 XA. The two vehicles, traveling in opposite directions, were involved in a head-on collision shortly before 6:00 PM.
Reports indicate that one of the vehicles involved in the tragic accident was transporting both cows and human passengers from Ilorin to Ogbomoso, Oyo State, while the trailer was traveling from Lagos to Kano. Emergency responders, along with officers from the ‘G’ Division Police Command in Oloje, quickly arrived at the scene to manage the situation. Injured victims were promptly transported to a nearby hospital for medical attention.
A viral video circulating in the state around 9:00 PM on the day of the incident showed the lifeless bodies of the deceased victims scattered across the road, painting a harrowing picture of the tragedy.
The cause of the accident remains under investigation, and the state command of the Federal Road Safety Corps has yet to release an official statement regarding the incident. However, confirmation of the accident was obtained through a telephone interview with a senior official of the corps in the state.
It was, however, gathered that the accident may have been caused by reckless driving and speeding. A video recorded by one of the rescuers captured the overturned truck with more than 10 corpses scattered across the road. In the footage, a voice urged the government to implement drastic measures to address the frequent accidents along the corridor, which has recently claimed numerous lives.
A senior officer of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Kwara State, speaking anonymously, confirmed that 15 people lost their lives in the crash, while three others sustained injuries.
In a telephone conversation on Thursday, the FRSC Sector Commander, Muftau Irekeola, confirmed the incident, stating, “The report of 15 casualties may not be far from the truth, but I am still awaiting details from my team in the Olooru unit.
“It was a multiple-vehicle accident involving a trailer and a Canter truck. I am currently waiting for a full briefing from my officers,” he added.
