A heartbreaking accident on the Benin-Auchi highway in the early hours of Saturday claimed the lives of 12 passengers after a Toyota Hiace bus collided with an oncoming truck and burst into flames.
The tragic incident occurred around 5 a.m. at Igueoviobo, near an army checkpoint. According to Edo Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Cyril Mathew, the bus, which had departed from Zuba in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) en route to Benin, veered into the path of the truck, leading to the fatal crash.
“The entire occupants of the bus were killed in the crash. The accident likely resulted from driver fatigue, as he may have dozed off behind the wheel,” Mathew stated.
Following the impact, the bus was engulfed in flames, leaving no chance for the victims to escape. The truck driver and his assistant, however, survived the ordeal unscathed.
Authorities have identified the victims through the vehicle’s manifest and have reached out to their families. Meanwhile, the FRSC has reiterated the importance of rest breaks for long-distance drivers, urging them to stop and recover when fatigued to prevent future tragedies.
