The Federal Road Safety Corps reported on Monday that 13 individuals lost their lives, while two sustained injuries in a vehicle collision in Kogi State.
According to Mr. Samuel Oyedeji, the Kogi FRSC Sector Commander, the accident occurred around 7:30 pm on Sunday.
He explained that the collision involved a commercial Sharon bus and an articulated cement truck, transpiring near Obajana Market along the Obajana-Lokoja Road in Lokoja Local Government Area of the state.
Oyedeji elaborated that the Sharon bus had stopped behind a truck near the market to allow passengers to purchase items when the cement truck, experiencing brake failure, collided with it from the rear.
“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,” he said.
The bus was reportedly heading to Abuja from the southern part of the country.
“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,” he added.
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.
According to him, motorists should always check their vehicles to ensure everything is in order before embarking on a journey to avoid road crashes.