A fatal accident on Saturday morning claimed the lives of 12 passengers along the Benin-Auchi highway after a collision between a Toyota Hiace bus and a truck.
Edo Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Cyril Mathew, confirmed the incident, stating that the crash occurred around 5 a.m. at Igueoviobo community, near an army checkpoint.
According to Mathew, the bus, which departed from Zuba in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and was heading to Benin, collided with an oncoming truck en route to Auchi.
“All occupants of the bus were killed in the crash,” he said, attributing the accident to driver fatigue, which may have caused the bus driver to doze off.
The impact of the crash ignited a fire, engulfing the bus and making rescue efforts impossible. However, the FRSC was able to identify the victims using the vehicle’s manifest and has since contacted their families.
Meanwhile, the truck driver and his assistant, known as the “Motor Boy,” escaped unhurt.
The FRSC has once again advised drivers to avoid fatigue during long journeys, urging them to take breaks when necessary to prevent similar tragedies.
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