Seventeen people, including six children, lost their lives in a fatal road accident at Issele-Uku, Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta State.
The tragic incident, which occurred on Sunday, involved a fully loaded truck and an overcrowded passenger bus.
Confirming the accident on Tuesday, the Delta State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Mr. Federick Ogidan, described the loss as “colossal” and attributed the crash to reckless driving and overloading.
“Seventeen people died, including five children, in the Issele-Uku area. The truck was carrying a load of tyres, while the bus, which was meant to carry 12 passengers, had 18 onboard. The driver of the bus attempted to overtake, but the truck refused to give way.
“In the process, the bus ran under the truck, and almost all the passengers lost their lives. Only the driver of the bus survived,” Ogidan explained.
He further criticized the negligence of the truck driver, stating, “The truck was overloaded, and we have spoken to the police about prosecuting the driver.”
Ogidan urged motorists to exercise patience on the road and avoid speeding to prevent similar tragedies.