A fatal accident on the Benin-Auchi highway in Edo State claimed the lives of 12 passengers on Saturday morning after a Toyota Hiace bus collided with an oncoming truck, resulting in a fiery explosion.
The Edo State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Cyril Mathew, confirmed the incident, which occurred around 5 am at Igueoviobo community, near an army checkpoint.
According to Mathew, the bus, which departed Zuba in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and was en route to Benin City, veered into the path of the oncoming truck heading toward Auchi.
The collision ignited a fire that engulfed the entire bus, leaving no survivors.
“The crash was likely caused by fatigue, as the bus driver may have dozed off behind the wheel,” he stated.
FRSC officials managed to identify the victims using the vehicle’s passenger manifest and have since contacted their families.
Meanwhile, the truck driver and his assistant, commonly referred to as the “motor boy,” escaped unhurt.
In response to the tragedy, Mathew reiterated the importance of road safety, urging drivers to take adequate rest before embarking on long journeys to prevent fatigue-related accidents.
