Tragedy struck early Saturday morning when 12 passengers were burnt to death in a fatal accident along the Benin-Auchi highway. The crash, involving a Toyota Hiace bus and an oncoming truck, occurred around 5 a.m. at Igueoviobo community, near an army checkpoint.
Edo Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, Cyril Mathew, confirmed the incident, stating that the ill-fated bus had departed from Zuba in the Federal Capital Territory and was en route to Benin when it collided head-on with the truck heading toward Auchi.
“The entire occupants of the bus were killed in the crash,” Mathew said, adding that driver fatigue was a likely cause as the bus driver may have dozed off before impact.
The force of the collision sparked a fire that consumed the vehicle, making rescue efforts impossible. However, the FRSC authorities identified the victims through the vehicle’s manifest and have since contacted their families.
Meanwhile, the truck driver and his assistant, commonly referred to as the “motor boy,” escaped unhurt.
Mathew reiterated the importance of rest during long journeys, urging drivers to stop and recharge when fatigued to prevent similar tragedies.
NAN
