By Jimoh Ahmed
It was a tragic Thursday morning in Ondo State as no fewer than five persons lost their lives, while two others sustained varying degrees of injuries in a fatal road crash that occurred at Oyin Junction, after Ilu-Abo, in Akure North Local Government Area.
The accident, which happened around 9:10 a.m., involved a Nissan Sunny car and a DAF tipper truck. Eyewitnesses said the victims were traders on their way to the popular Ogbese Market on the outskirts of Akure to sell their goods when the tragedy struck.
Confirming the incident, the Ondo State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Dr. Samuel Ibitoye, attributed the cause of the crash to over-speeding.
> “Seven people were involved — five were killed, comprising one male adult, three female adults, and one female child — while two others sustained injuries,”
Dr. Ibitoye disclosed.
He added that the remains of the deceased had been deposited at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Owo, by personnel from the FRSC Owo Unit Command.
Dr. Ibitoye expressed deep concern over the rising number of avoidable road crashes on major highways across Ondo State, stressing that the command had intensified its road safety campaigns among tipper drivers and other motorists plying the Akure–Ogbese route.
> “It is becoming too frequent. We have been engaging tipper drivers and will continue to do so. They must ensure proper vehicle maintenance to prevent crashes caused by mechanical faults,” he said.
The Sector Commander further advised motorists to adopt defensive driving techniques, especially during the ember months, when traffic density and travel frequency usually increase.
He emphasized that adherence to traffic regulations and responsible driving remain essential to protecting lives and contributing to national development.
Meanwhile, sympathizers and passersby at the scene described the accident as heartbreaking, lamenting that the victims, mostly traders, had left their homes early in the morning in search of daily bread, only to meet their untimely deaths on the road.
The tragic incident has once again brought to the fore the urgent need for stricter enforcement of speed limits, proper road maintenance, and renewed commitment to safe driving across Nigeria’s highways.
