16 People Killed In Fatal Auto Crash Along Lokoja-Okene Highway

No fewer than 16 passengers have lost their lives in a fatal road crash that occurred along the Lokoja-Okene highway in Kogi State.

The Kogi State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Lawal Fagge, confirmed the tragic incident, saying that the crash happened at Aku village near Osara at about 9:20am on Friday.

According to him, the accident involved a Toyota Hiace bus with registration number BUU 17 ZD travelling from Jos, Plateau State, to Lagos with 22 passengers comprising 21 males and one female.

The crash, which was blamed on fatigue, occurred when the speeding vehicle reportedly veered off the highway and plunged beneath a bridge, resulting in the death of 16 passengers, including 15 males and the only female occupant.

FRSC personnel attached to the Kogi State Command were said to have responded swiftly to a distress call and rescued six survivors who sustained varying degrees of injuries.

The command disclosed that the injured victims had been taken to health facilities in Osara and the Specialist Hospital, Lokoja, for treatment, while the remains of the deceased were deposited at the Ankuri Mortuary in Lokoja.

The command also appealed to motorists and other road users to remain safety conscious and comply with traffic regulations while travelling.