Tragedy struck on the Lokoja–Okene highway in Kogi State on Friday as a fatal road accident claimed the lives of 16 passengers after a commercial bus reportedly plunged under a bridge at high speed.
The devastating crash occurred at about 9:20 a.m. near Aku village, close to Osara, along the ever-busy highway.
Confirming the incident, the Kogi State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Lawal Fagge, said the accident involved a Toyota Hiace bus with registration number BUU 17 ZD travelling from Jos, Plateau State, to Lagos.
According to the FRSC boss, the ill-fated vehicle was carrying 22 passengers made up of 21 men and one woman when the driver allegedly lost control due to fatigue and excessive speed.
The bus reportedly veered off the road and plunged beneath a bridge, killing 16 occupants instantly, including 15 men and the only female passenger on board.
FRSC rescue teams responded swiftly to the distress call and rescued six survivors who sustained varying degrees of injuries.
The injured victims were evacuated to health facilities in Osara and the Specialist Hospital in Lokoja for urgent medical attention, while the bodies of the deceased were deposited at the Ankuri Mortuary in Lokoja.
The FRSC warned motorists against speeding, fatigue, and reckless driving, urging road users to obey traffic regulations to prevent further loss of lives on the nation’s highways.
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