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An estimated 70 people were killed yesterday and several dozen others were seriously injured when a trailer laden with cement lost control and veered off its lane at Lokoja, capital of Kogi State. It then rammed into nearly two dozen vehicles coming from the opposite direction, veered off the road and crushed scores of roadside traders and their customers.
The trailer, belonging to Dangote Cement, was coming from the cement factory at Obajana. Witnesses said its brakes appeared to have failed, hence the accident.
Witnesses also said they counted over 70 dead bodies before police officers and men of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) arrived at the scene of the crash. “Don’t let these officers deceive you, we were here when the accident happened. We counted more than 60 dead bodies. There were also about 20 people who were seriously injured in the accident. It was a very terrible accident”, said Musa Abdullahi, who said he witnessed it.
Vice Chairman of Lokoja Local Government Area Mr Lawrence Ikuboroje, who could not confirm the casualty figure, however said the incident could have been averted if the on-going Abuja-Lokoja road dualisation had been completed. He also said if the state government had commissioned the new international market in Lokoja, traders would not have had cause to transact businesses at the roadsides.
Kogi State deputy governor Phillip Salawu, who was at the scene of the accident, was nearly mobbed by angry residents and traders and he hurriedly left the scene.
The state Police Public Relations Officer Mr. Abubakar Muhammed told our reporter that over 50 people were killed in the incident. But the FRSC sector commander, Mr Yomi Asaniyan, said his men evacuated only 24 dead bodies, including eight females and 16 males, as well as nine injured persons who were taken to the Kogi State Specialist Hospital in Lokoja.
Asaniyan also said there could be many more causalities from the accident because many families had already taken away their relations before the Road Safety men got to the scene.
According to him, the accident involved over 20 vehicles, including five buses, all of which were coming from the direction of Abuja. Five motorcycles were also crushed, he said.
“The cause of the accident was that Dangote trailer loaded with 600 bags of cement which was coming from Obajana and incidentally the driver lost control. Felele is a market place where traders transact their businesses at the roadside. As the trailer lost control, it started hitting vehicles and crushing people. It is unfortunate that a market can be on the highway. Drivers are also in the habit of parking there to carry passengers and goods. For now, the government should ban this market or move traders out of this place. Dangote trailers in recent times have been causing accidents in this area. Some of these trailers are not roadworthy, while the drivers are not well trained to be safety-conscious on the highway,” said the FRSC boss.
Meanwhile, Governor Ibrahim Idris, through his Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs Mr Zakari Adamu, expressed shock and sadness over yesterday’s accident and appealed to motorists to always check their vehicles before taking to the road. “This is one accident too many. I sympathise with the families of the victims. I pray that God repose the souls of the deceased and may He give the injured quick recovery,” said the governor.
It would be recalled that a similar incident occurred at the Dekina market in the state last December, during which over 90 people were reportedly killed.
The trailer, belonging to Dangote Cement, was coming from the cement factory at Obajana. Witnesses said its brakes appeared to have failed, hence the accident.
Witnesses also said they counted over 70 dead bodies before police officers and men of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) arrived at the scene of the crash. “Don’t let these officers deceive you, we were here when the accident happened. We counted more than 60 dead bodies. There were also about 20 people who were seriously injured in the accident. It was a very terrible accident”, said Musa Abdullahi, who said he witnessed it.
Vice Chairman of Lokoja Local Government Area Mr Lawrence Ikuboroje, who could not confirm the casualty figure, however said the incident could have been averted if the on-going Abuja-Lokoja road dualisation had been completed. He also said if the state government had commissioned the new international market in Lokoja, traders would not have had cause to transact businesses at the roadsides.
Kogi State deputy governor Phillip Salawu, who was at the scene of the accident, was nearly mobbed by angry residents and traders and he hurriedly left the scene.
The state Police Public Relations Officer Mr. Abubakar Muhammed told our reporter that over 50 people were killed in the incident. But the FRSC sector commander, Mr Yomi Asaniyan, said his men evacuated only 24 dead bodies, including eight females and 16 males, as well as nine injured persons who were taken to the Kogi State Specialist Hospital in Lokoja.
Asaniyan also said there could be many more causalities from the accident because many families had already taken away their relations before the Road Safety men got to the scene.
According to him, the accident involved over 20 vehicles, including five buses, all of which were coming from the direction of Abuja. Five motorcycles were also crushed, he said.
“The cause of the accident was that Dangote trailer loaded with 600 bags of cement which was coming from Obajana and incidentally the driver lost control. Felele is a market place where traders transact their businesses at the roadside. As the trailer lost control, it started hitting vehicles and crushing people. It is unfortunate that a market can be on the highway. Drivers are also in the habit of parking there to carry passengers and goods. For now, the government should ban this market or move traders out of this place. Dangote trailers in recent times have been causing accidents in this area. Some of these trailers are not roadworthy, while the drivers are not well trained to be safety-conscious on the highway,” said the FRSC boss.
Meanwhile, Governor Ibrahim Idris, through his Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs Mr Zakari Adamu, expressed shock and sadness over yesterday’s accident and appealed to motorists to always check their vehicles before taking to the road. “This is one accident too many. I sympathise with the families of the victims. I pray that God repose the souls of the deceased and may He give the injured quick recovery,” said the governor.
It would be recalled that a similar incident occurred at the Dekina market in the state last December, during which over 90 people were reportedly killed.
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