At least five people have been confirmed dead, and ten others are in a critical condition following two separate road accidents on Tuesday in Delta State.
The accidents occurred along the Issele-Uku/Onicha-Ugbo axis of the Benin-Onitsha expressway in the Aniocha North local government area of the state.
It was reported that one of the accidents involved a Sienna vehicle which allegedly drifted off the road and somersaulted several times, resulting in the deaths of four occupants, while others sustained critical injuries.
According to eyewitnesses, a family of four was among those in the Sienna. The father died immediately, while the mother and two children survived and were among those swiftly taken to hospital.
Confirming the incident, the Delta State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Fredrick Ogidan, stated that four of the deceased were occupants of the Sienna, while the fifth casualty was in a mini-bus.
Survivors from the accidents were promptly taken to Issele-Uku General Hospital and an FRSC clinic in the area for medical attention.
“It is true that the crashes occurred. In fact, there were two accidents. In one, one person died, and we were able to rescue about five others. One was taken to our clinic, while the others were rushed to the hospital in Issele-Uku. In the other crash, four persons died, and we managed to rescue about five survivors,” he said.
Ogidan attributed the accidents to driver fatigue and excessive speeding, stating that many drivers were overburdened by multiple trips.
“Most of these drivers are doing multiple trips in pursuit of money. It is evident that due to tiredness, they lose control. The road conditions are adequate, but speed and fatigue are the main causes,” he explained.
The FRSC commander commended the swift response of emergency personnel, which he said saved several lives.
“We thank God because everyone could have died, but for our timely intervention. Many of them received first aid at our clinic in Issele-Uku before being transferred to the hospital,” he added.
Ogidan also disclosed that another minor crash occurred on the same road on Tuesday morning, although no fatalities were reported.
“I just received a report that another incident happened this morning. Fortunately, there were no deaths. All passengers were rescued and taken to hospital,” he said.
The FRSC is urging drivers to prioritise rest and adhere to speed limits to prevent further tragedies.
“Speed and fatigue are the primary factors. We cannot overemphasise the need for drivers to be cautious. Lives are at stake,” Ogidan warned.
The accidents occurred just days after a tanker explosion in Agbor which claimed four lives.
