A tragic accident claimed the lives of two individuals and left three others injured on the morning of Eid-el Kabir in Ososa, along the Sagamu-Ijebu Ode Expressway.
The unfortunate incident, confirmed by Florence Okpe, spokesperson for the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Ogun State, occurred at approximately 11:28 a.m. on Sunday.
According to Ms. Okpe, the accident involved an ash-colored Howo truck with no registration number and a blue Toyota Camry bearing the registration number APP 478 FS.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the collision was a result of excessive speed, which led to a loss of control by one of the vehicles, ultimately resulting in the tragic accident.
“A total of five people were involved in the accident,” stated Ms. Okpe.
“This included one man and four women. Sadly, two people—a man and a woman—lost their lives, while three women sustained injuries.” The victims were immediately attended to by emergency responders.
The injured were rushed to the General Hospital in Ijebu Ode for urgent medical treatment. Meanwhile, the bodies of the deceased were also transported to the hospital’s morgue.
Eyewitnesses recounted the harrowing moments following the collision.
“It was a scene of chaos and panic,” one witness described. “People tried to help the victims as best as they could before the emergency services arrived.”
The FRSC has reiterated the importance of adhering to speed limits, especially during festive periods when the volume of traffic tends to increase.
Ms. Okpe emphasized the dangers posed by reckless driving, urging all motorists to exercise caution and maintain safe driving practices to prevent such tragedies.
“The FRSC is committed to ensuring the safety of all road users,” she said. “We will continue to enforce traffic regulations and educate drivers on the importance of road safety.”
The incident has cast a pall over the Eid-el Kabir celebrations in the region, as families and friends of the victims grapple with the sudden and heartbreaking loss.
Community leaders have called for prayers and support for the affected families, stressing the need for collective efforts to enhance road safety.
This latest accident adds to the growing list of road mishaps in Nigeria, a country grappling with high rates of road traffic accidents. According to the World Health Organization, Nigeria ranks among the countries with the highest road traffic accident rates globally.
Factors contributing to this include poor road conditions, over-speeding, and inadequate enforcement of traffic laws.
In light of this, the FRSC has been intensifying its efforts to reduce road accidents through various initiatives, including public awareness campaigns, stricter enforcement of traffic laws, and improvements in road infrastructure.
As investigations into the exact cause of the Sagamu-Ijebu Ode accident continue, the FRSC is calling on all road users to remain vigilant and responsible. “Every life lost on our roads is one too many,” Ms. Okpe concluded. “Let us all do our part in making our roads safer.”
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of road safety, especially during festive periods. The hope remains that through concerted efforts by authorities and the public alike, such tragedies can be significantly reduced.
This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members
