The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Ondo State on Wednesday confirmed that 16 people lost their lives in a tragic accident on the Ore-Benin Expressway.
The accident, which happened on Monday night, also left three individuals injured.
Samuel Ibitoye, the spokesperson for the FRSC Ondo command, said the accident took place around 8 p.m. near the Ajue community and involved a Toyota Hiace bus and a truck.
Ibitoye noted that the collision was caused by excessive speeding and wrongful overtaking.
“The rescue operation, which began immediately after the crash, concluded at 11 p.m.,” Ibitoye said.
Ibitoye added that while the preliminary investigation points to speeding and overtaking as the primary causes, the full investigation into the circumstances surrounding the accident is still ongoing.
He advised drivers to take caution, adding that excessive speeding is a major contributor to road accidents in Nigeria.
In March, the FRSC directed its commanding officers to step up enforcement against vehicle overloading and nighttime travel in a bid to curb the rising number of road accidents. The agency has long advocated for safer driving practices on highways.