LOKOJA, Nigeria — Sixteen people have been killed in a fatal road crash involving a commercial bus along the Okene–Lokoja highway in Kogi State.
The incident, which occurred at the Aku community on Friday morning, involved a Toyota Hiace bus carrying 22 passengers. According to the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), the vehicle lost control in a “lone crash,” meaning no other vehicles were involved.
The Rescue Operation
In a statement signed by Osondu Ohaeri, the Corps Public Education Officer, the FRSC confirmed that rescue teams arrived at the scene within 15 minutes of being alerted.
The casualties included 15 men and one woman. Six survivors, all men, sustained serious injuries, including head trauma, and have been evacuated to Specialist Hospital Lokoja and Osara Hospital for emergency treatment.
‘A Consequence of Fatigue’
Preliminary investigations suggest the driver may have fallen asleep or lost concentration due to exhaustion.
“The probable cause of the crash was driver fatigue, which led to loss of control of the vehicle,” the statement read.
Corps Marshal Shehu Mohammed expressed his condolences to the bereaved families and issued a stern warning to commercial drivers regarding the dangers of long-distance travel without adequate rest.
Safety Warnings
The FRSC has reiterated its call for motorists to avoid:
- Fatigue Driving: Emphasising that tiredness significantly impairs reaction time.
- Night Journeys carry higher risks due to poor visibility and driver exhaustion.
- Excessive Speeding: Often used by drivers to make up time after late starts.
The corpses of the deceased have been deposited at a mortuary in Lokoja as authorities continue their investigation into the crash.
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