A devastating road accident claimed the lives of nine people, including a pregnant woman, a mother, and her child, on Wednesday night in the university community of Akungba-Akoko, Akoko South-West Local Government Area of Ondo State. The fatal crash involved a cement-laden truck.
The accident occurred around 8:00 p.m., just a few metres from the main gate of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), and the Holy Trinity Church.
According to reports, the truck belonged to Dangote, which was transporting cement from Obajana in Kogi State, reportedly suffered brake failure before ramming into traders and road users in the crowded area.
Enraged residents and sympathisers at the scene blamed the tragedy on the earlier removal of a barricade that had been installed to prevent heavy-duty trucks from passing through the community.
One of the sources alleged, “Some boys in the community had been using the barricade erected to extort N10,000 from the truck drivers before allowing them to pass through. The government turned blind eyes.”
The incident has reignited painful memories of similar accidents in Akungba-Akoko, which have claimed numerous lives over the years.
Confirming the crash, the Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Ondo State, Ibitoye, said eight people lost their lives in the accident.
He stated,
“The deceased persons include five males, two females and one child. The truck ran into a barricade in front of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, and lost control, resulting in the crash.”
