No fewer than 12 people have lost their lives, while two others sustained injuries in a late-night road accident along the Ejule–Enugu highway in Kogi State.
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) confirmed the incident, which occurred on Friday night at the Iboko community in Idah Local Government Area of the state.
Speaking with journalists in Lokoja on Saturday, the Kogi State Sector Commander of the FRSC, Mr. Tenimu Etuku, described the crash as tragic, noting that a child was among those who died.
According to Etuku, the accident happened at about 11:30 p.m. and involved an 18-seater Toyota Hiace bus operated by Romchi Mass Transit, which was travelling from Abuja to the eastern part of the country.
“The crash occurred when the commercial bus collided with a stationary articulated vehicle that had developed a fault and was parked on the road,” he said. “Preliminary findings indicate that over-speeding was a major factor.”
He explained that FRSC operatives promptly carried out a rescue operation, evacuating the injured victims to Mercy of Jesus Hospital in Ejule for treatment, while the remains of the deceased were taken to the morgue.
Etuku extended condolences to the families of those who lost their lives and warned motorists against reckless driving, especially during the festive season.
“This yuletide period usually comes with increased vehicular movement, and drivers must exercise patience, avoid excessive speed, and obey traffic regulations to prevent avoidable loss of lives,” he said.
The FRSC commander further urged road users to prioritise safety on long-distance journeys, stressing that adherence to traffic rules would help reduce the rising cases of road crashes across the country.
The Ejule–Enugu road is a major federal highway linking the North-Central and South-East regions and often experiences heavy traffic during festive periods, heightening the risk of accidents.
