FRSC: 13 Passengers Die, Two Others Injured in Kogi Auto Crash

•Corps marshal seeks probe, driver’s prosecution

Ibrahim Oyewale in Lokoja and Kasim Sumaina in Abuja

No fewer than 13 passengers have been confirmed dead,while two others received varying degree of injuries  in a ghastly auto crash that occurred at Onajana, along Obajana -Lokoja Road in Lokoja Local Government Area of Kogi State  on Sunday.

The state Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Mr Samuel Oyedeji, who disclosed this yesterday, confirmed that 13 persons died while two others  were injured in an auto crash in Kogi.

He explained  that the accident involving a commercial Sharon Bus and an articulated Cement Truck, occurred at Obajana Market along Obajana-Lokoja road.

He pointed out that the Sharon bus had packed behind a truck around the market for passengers to buy some things, when the cement truck lost control as result of brake failure and subsequently  rammed into it from behind.

The bus was reportedly heading to Abuja from the southern part of the country.

“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.

“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.

Oyedeji expressed worry that no hospital in Kogi agreed to take the charred bodies for keep, which might force the authorities to give them a massive burial if no relation came around.

The sector commander, who described the incident as “very sad and unfortunate”, cautioned motorists against speeding and poor maintenance of their vehicles.

Meanwhile, 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 would lead to speedy prosecution of all the drivers responsible for the crash.

According to him, with the recent collaboration between the Corps, the Nigeria Bar Association as well as State Judiciaries, the drivers responsible for the occurrences would not go scot-free.

Biu noted: “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.”

Biu, in a statement, yesterday, by the Assistant Corps Marshal, Corps Public Education Officer, FRSC Headquarters, Jonas Agwu, hinted preliminary reports indicated that the crash involved a total of 4 vehicles comprising of 2 Dangote Trucks, 1 Sharon bus and 1 motor bike.

“One of the Dangote Truck’s breaking system failed while on excessive speed and crashed into 3 stationery 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 motor bike rider.

“On the whole, the crash involved 15 people comprising 8 male adults and 3 female adult, 3 male children and 1 female child.  Unfortunately, 13 persons comprising of 6 male adults, 3 male children, 3 female adults and 1 female child were killed while the remaining 2 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.

“Expectedly, the Corps has also risen up against this challenges and frantic efforts are already in place to bring it to a halt.”