A devastating accident on Saturday morning claimed the lives of 12 passengers along the Benin-Auchi highway. The incident, involving a Toyota Hiace bus and a truck, occurred around 5 a.m. in the Igueoviobo community, near an army checkpoint.
Cyril Mathew, the Edo Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), confirmed that the bus, which had departed from Zuba in the Federal Capital Territory and was heading to Benin, collided with an oncoming truck traveling towards Auchi.
“The entire occupants of the bus were killed in the crash,” Mathew reported. He suggested that fatigue may have played a role in the accident, stating, “The accident likely resulted from fatigue, as the driver may have dozed off, leading to the collision.”
The impact of the crash caused the bus to be engulfed in flames, making it impossible for rescuers to save the victims. Fortunately, the truck driver and his assistant escaped without injuries.
The FRSC was able to identify the deceased passengers through the vehicle’s manifest and has since contacted their families.
Mathew took this opportunity to urge drivers to prioritize safety, advising them to take necessary breaks to combat fatigue while traveling to prevent further tragedies.
