Auto crash claims 15 lives in Kwara
By Mosunmola Ayobami, Ilorin
A tragic multiple-auto accident involving a trailer and a Canter truck along the accident-prone Oko Olowo axis of the Ilorin-Jebba expressway in Kwara State has claimed 15 lives.
Eyewitnesses reported that the crash occurred on Wednesday at approximately 5:35 p.m. when a trailer with registration number AYE 218 XC collided head-on with a motor vehicle with registration number TTN 556 XA. Several others sustained varying degrees of injuries in the accident.
According to sources, one of the vehicles involved was transporting cows and human passengers from Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, to Ogbomoso in Oyo State. The trailer was reportedly traveling from Lagos to Kano.
Emergency responders, including personnel from the ‘G’ Division Police Command, Oloje, quickly arrived at the scene to manage the situation. The injured victims were rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment, while families of the deceased evacuated their bodies.
Although investigations into the cause of the accident are ongoing, preliminary reports suggest reckless driving and excessive speeding as contributing factors.
A video of the incident, shared with newsmen, showed the trailer overturned on its side and over 10 corpses scattered on the road. A voice in the video called on the government to implement stringent measures to address frequent accidents on the corridor, which has become notorious for fatal crashes.
Speaking on the incident, a senior official of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Kwara Command, who requested anonymity, confirmed the casualty figure, stating that 15 people died, while three others were injured.
In a telephone interview, the FRSC Sector Commander, Muftau Irekeola, also confirmed the accident but said he was awaiting a detailed report from the Olooru unit.
“That we have 15 casualties may not be far from the truth, but I am still waiting for details. It was a multiple accident involving a trailer and one Canter truck,” he said.
