The corps marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps, Dauda Ali Biu, has directed Kogi State sector commander of the corps to commence a detailed investigation that will lead to the speedy prosecution of all the drivers responsible for multiple road traffic crash that occurred on Sunday at Obajana market in Kogi State, where so many people died.
Biu said, “With the recent collaboration between the corps, the Nigeria Bar Association as well as state judiciaries, the drivers responsible for these occurrences will not go scot-free. They are going to be prosecuted in accordance with the provisions of the National Road Traffic Regulations 2012 and those found guilty will bear the consequences of their actions.”
FRSC spokesperson, Jonas Agwu said preliminary reports indicate that the crash involved a total of four vehicles, comprising two Dangote Trucks, one Sharon bus and one motorbike.
While giving a breakdown of the crash, ACM Agwu said: “One of Dangote truck’s breaking system failed while on excessive speed and crashed into three stationary vehicles, including a bus carrying 12 passengers.
“The impact of the crash resulted in a fire outbreak that killed the 12 passengers in the bus and the motorbike rider. On the whole, the crash involved 15 people, comprising eight male adults and three female adults, three male children and one female child.
“Unfortunately, 13 persons comprising six male adults, three male children, three female adults and one female child were killed while the remaining two victims got rescued by FRSC operatives without injuries.
“The 13 victims whose lives were claimed by the crash were burnt beyond recognition and their corpses deposited at Specialist Hospital, Lokoja.”
The FRSC spokesperson said the corps had also risen up against these challenges and frantic efforts are already in place to bring them to a halt.
The Kogi sector commander, Mr Samuel Oyedeji told the newsmen that the sad incident occurred about 7:30 p.m. on Sunday. He said the accident which involved a commercial Sharon Spacewagon and an articulated cement truck, occurred by Obajana Market along Obajana -Lokoja Road in Lokoja Local Government Area of Kogi.
The sector commander said that the Sharon Vehicle had packed behind a truck around the market for passengers to buy some things, when the cement truck lost control and rammed into it from behind.
He added that as soon as the truck rammed into the bus, it immediately went up in flames and burnt all the passengers inside it. Other affected vehicles included two trucks and a motorcycle which were completely burnt.
The bus was reportedly heading for Abuja from the southern part of the country.
Oyedeji expressed worry that no hospital in Kogi agreed to take the bodies for keep, which might force the authorities to give them a mass burial if no relation comes around.
The sector commander, who described the incident as very sad and unfortunate, cautioned motorists against speeding and poor maintenance of their vehicles.
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