The Federal Road Safety Corps reported on Monday that 13 people were killed and two were injured in an auto accident in Kogi State.
Mr Samuel Oyedeji, the Kogi FRSC Sector Commander, said that the accident occurred around 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, March 31, 2024.
He stated that the accident involving a commercial Sharon bus and an articulated cement truck occurred near Obajana Market on the Obajana-Lokoja Road in the Lokoja Local Government Area of the state.
According to the sector commander, the Sharon bus was packed behind a truck around the market waiting for passengers to buy anything when the cement truck lost brakes and crashed into it from behind.
“As soon as the truck rammed into the bus, it immediately went into flame and burnt virtually all 13 passengers inside it,” he said.
“Also burnt were the bus, two trucks and a motorcycle.
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“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,” he added.
Oyedeji expressed concern that no hospital in Kogi would accept the burnt bodies for storage, forcing the authorities to give them a mass burial if no relatives came forward.
The sector commander, who described the tragedy as “very sad and unfortunate,” urged motorists to avoid speeding and poor vehicle maintenance.
To avoid road accidents, he believes that drivers should always inspect their vehicles to verify that everything is in working order before leaving.