The Federal Road Safety Corps reported on Monday that 13 individuals lost their lives and two sustained injuries in a vehicular collision in Kogi State.
According to Mr. Samuel Oyedeji, the Kogi FRSC Sector Commander, the incident transpired at approximately 7:30 pm on Sunday.
The accident involved a commercial Sharon bus and an articulated cement truck and took place near Obajana Market along Obajana-Lokoja Road in Lokoja Local Government Area.
Oyedeji explained that the Sharon bus had halted behind a truck at the market for passengers to make purchases when the cement truck, having lost its brakes, collided with it from the rear.
“As soon as the truck rammed into the bus, it immediately went into flame and burnt virtually all the passengers inside it.
“Also burnt were the bus, two trucks and a motorcycle,” he said.
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It was reported that the bus was en route to Abuja from the southern region 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 was willing to accept the charred bodies for storage, raising the possibility of authorities resorting to a mass burial if no relatives claimed them.
The sector commander, labeling the incident as “deeply regrettable and unfortunate,” advised motorists to avoid speeding and neglecting vehicle maintenance.
He emphasized the importance of thorough vehicle checks before traveling to prevent accidents on the road.
