The Federal Road Safety Corps said on Monday that 13 people died while two were injured in an auto crash in Kogi.

FRSC sector commander Samuel Oyedeji said the crash occurred around 7:30 p.m. on Sunday.

He stated the crash involved a commercial Sharon bus and an articulated cement truck at Obajana Market along Obajana-Lokoja road in Lokoja LGA.

The sector commander said the Sharon bus was packed behind a truck around the market for passengers to buy some things when the cement truck lost its brake and rammed into it from behind.

“And that 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.

“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 to the fierceness of the fire,” he explained.

The FRSC commander added, “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.”

Mr 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 vehicle maintenance.

According to him, motorists should always check their vehicles to ensure everything is in order before embarking on a journey to avoid road crashes. 

(NAN)