No fewer than eleven passengers have lost their lives, while seven others sustained varying degrees of injuries in a fatal road accident that occurred along the Benin–Asaba highway in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of Edo State.
The Edo State Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) confirmed the tragic incident on Tuesday. The Sector Commander, Cyril Mathew, disclosed that the crash occurred on Saturday and involved a head-on collision between two vehicles.
According to Mathew, investigations revealed that an 18-seater commercial bus travelling towards Lagos attempted to overtake another vehicle along the highway. In the process, the bus collided head-on with an oncoming vehicle, resulting in a devastating impact that claimed the lives of eleven occupants on the spot.
He explained that FRSC rescue operatives were promptly deployed to the scene of the accident upon receiving a distress alert. The injured victims were swiftly evacuated and rushed to nearby hospitals for urgent medical attention, while the bodies of the deceased were recovered and deposited at the morgue.
Mathew described the accident as avoidable, stressing that dangerous overtaking and reckless driving remain major causes of fatal crashes on Nigerian highways. He warned motorists to exercise patience and caution, especially on busy routes such as the Benin–Asaba expressway.
The FRSC sector commander further emphasized that strict adherence to traffic rules and regulations is the most effective way to reduce road accidents and prevent unnecessary loss of lives. He urged commercial drivers in particular to prioritize the safety of their passengers over speeding and risky maneuvers.
The incident adds to the growing list of fatal road crashes recorded across the country in recent weeks. Authorities have continued to appeal to road users to drive responsibly, noting that many of these accidents are preventable with discipline and compliance with traffic laws.
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