Tragedy In Ondo As Dangote Truck Crushes Pregnant Woman, Mother, Child, 6 Others

A pregnant woman, her mother, and child were among nine people who lost their lives on Wednesday night in a fatal road crash at Akungba-Akoko, in Akoko South-West Local Government Area of Ondo State.

The tragic incident, which occurred around 8:00 p.m. near the main gate of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA) and the Holy Trinity Church, involved a cement-laden truck reportedly belonging to Dangote Cement.

According to eyewitnesses, the truck, which was heading from Obajana in Kogi State, allegedly suffered a brake failure before it rammed into traders and pedestrians in the densely populated university community.

Angered residents and sympathizers, who thronged the scene, blamed the crash on the removal of a barricade that previously prevented heavy-duty vehicles from entering the area. They recalled that several lives had been lost in similar accidents in recent years.

One eyewitness said, “Some boys in the community had been collecting ₦10,000 from truck drivers before allowing them to pass through the barricade. The authorities did nothing to stop it.”

Confirming the incident, the Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Ondo State, Mr. Ezekiel Ibitoye, said a total of eight people died in the crash.

According to him, “The deceased include five males, two females, and one child. The truck ran into a barricade in front of Adekunle Ajasin University and lost control, leading to the accident.”

Authorities have since evacuated the remains of the victims, while emergency personnel worked through the night to clear the wreckage and restore normal traffic flow.