Five persons have lost their lives in a tragic accident involving a Dangote Cement truck and a commercial tricycle at Alapoka village along the Papalanto–Ilaro Road in Yewa South Local Government Area of Ogun State.
The fatal crash, which occurred around 8:30 p.m. on Friday, was confirmed by the spokesperson for the Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency, Babatunde Akinbiyi.
According to Akinbiyi, the accident happened when the truck reportedly suffered brake failure and rammed into the tricycle, killing all five occupants instantly.
He said, “A Dangote truck with registration number GRZ 767 XA collided with an unregistered tricycle conveying five passengers. Unfortunately, all five died on the spot.”
Quoting eyewitness accounts, Akinbiyi explained that the truck driver was unaware of the collision until the vehicle’s tyres had already crushed the tricycle and its passengers.
“The driver didn’t realize immediately that he had hit the tricycle. By the time he did, the tricycle and its occupants had been completely crushed,” he said.
He added that the TRACE Acting Head, Adedayo Omonayajo, and the Ilaro Divisional Commander, Salako Idowu, led a rescue team to the scene. However, their efforts were briefly hindered by irate residents who attempted to attack the officials.
“The rescue team was nearly mobbed by angry residents, but the quick intervention of Amotekun Corps officers calmed the situation,” Akinbiyi stated.
The remains of the deceased were later deposited at a morgue by personnel of the Federal Road Safety Corps.
The incident adds to a growing list of fatal crashes involving Dangote trucks across the country. In November 2024, a multiple crash involving a Dangote truck in Lagos and Ogun states claimed four lives and injured seven others after the vehicle reportedly lost its brakes.
In June 2021, another Dangote truck crushed a commercial motorcyclist and his passenger in Ogun State, sparking public outrage that led residents to set the vehicle ablaze.
Residents of Alapoka community have appealed to authorities to enforce stricter safety measures for heavy-duty vehicles plying the route, stressing that such accidents have become too frequent.
“This road has witnessed too many avoidable deaths. The government must act to prevent more lives from being lost,” a resident said.
