TheCable

The Kogi command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) says 20 persons died while 36 others sustained injuries in road accidents in the state within two weeks. 

NAN reports that Samuel Oyedeji, Kogi sector commander of FRSC, spoke in Lokoja, the state capital, on Thursday.

Oyedeji said the deaths were recorded from three separate accidents, adding that the causality figure is disturbing despite the efforts of the corps to reduce crashes on highways.

He said one of the accidents involving an 18-seater Toyota Hiace bus and a Howo Sono truck occurred on September 3 along the Obajana-Lokoja road.

The corps commander added that 12 persons died while six sustained injuries in the accident.

“The dead victims were given mass burial at the central mosque, Obajana, while the injured were taken to First Nation Orthopedic Hospital, Zariagi, for medical attention,” he said.

“The property of the victims and the vehicle are in the custody of police (MTD) at Obajana Police Division.

“On September 10, we had a lone accident involving a Toyota Hiace bus, which left five persons dead and 15 injured at Zango, close to Chukwumereje roundabout within Lokoja metropolis.

“Just on Sept. 13, three persons lost their lives, again, while 15 were injured at Omoko village along Abuja-Lokoja road where another Toyota Hiace bus lost control and crashed at around 10:30 a.m.”

Oyedeji attributed the cause of the auto crash to overspeeding, overloading and poor vehicle maintenance.

He advised motorists not to travel at night and adhere to traffic rules and regulations to avoid road accidents.