Twenty people were killed and 36 wounded in separate auto crashes involving Toyota Hiace buses within 14 days in Kogi, FRSC said.

FRSC sector commander Samuel Oyedeji disclosed this on Thursday that the fatalities were from three separate incidents.

Mr Oyedeji described the fatalities as worrisome and unfortunate, considering FRSC’s efforts to reduce road crashes on highways.

The sector commander explained that the most worrisome was the crash on September 3 that killed 12 and wounded six, when an 18-seater Toyota Hiace bus collided with a Howo Sono truck along Obajana-Lokoja road.

“The dead victims were given mass burial at the Central Mosque Obajana, while the injured were taken to First Nation Orthopedic Hospital Zariagi for medical attention. The property of the victims and the vehicle are in custody of lolice (MTD) at Obajana Police Division,” stated Mr Oyedeji explained.

He added, “On September 10, we had a lone accident involving a Toyota Hiace bus, which left five persons dead and 15 injured at Zango, close to Chukwumereje Roundabout within Lokoja metropolis.

“Just on September 13, three persons lost their lives again while 15 were injured at Omoko village along Abujai-Lokoja road where another Toyota Hiace bus lost control and crashed at around 10:30 a.m.”

The FRSC commander said joint rescue patrol teams of Abaji, Zebra 16 Abaji and Zebra 13 Gegu, were at Wednesday’s crash scene and rescued 15 wounded.

According to him, the injured were rushed to General Hospital, Abaji and Ayaura Comprehensive Hospital, Abaji,

He said the three corpses were deposited at the mortuary of Abaji General Hospital.

Mr Oyedeji, who attributed the causes of the accidents to speeding, overloading and poor vehicle maintenance, called for caution to stop the carnage and save the lives of innocent people.

He further advised motorists to stop night journeys and ensure strict adherence to traffic rules and regulations, to avoid unnecessary road crashes on highways. 

(NAN)