At least five people have been confirmed dead, and 10 others are in critical condition following two separate road accidents on Tuesday, January 7, 2024, along the Issele-Uku/Onicha-Ugbo axis of the Benin-Onitsha expressway in Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta State.
Tragically, these incidents come just days after a tanker explosion in Agbor, less than 10 kilometers from Issele-Uku, claimed the lives of five people.
It was gathered that one of the accidents involved a Sienna which reportedly drifted out of the road and somersaulted severally, leaving four of the occupants dead while others in critical conditions.
According to eyewitnesses, a family of four were among the occupants of the sienna. While the father died immediately, the wife and two kids survived and were amongst those successfully rushed to the hospital.
Confirming the incident, the Delta State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Fredrick Ogidan, four of the deceased were occupants of a Sienna car, while the fifth casualty was in a mini-bus.
Survivors from the accidents were promptly rushed to the Issele-Uku General Hospital and an FRSC clinic in the area for medical attention.
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“It is true, the crashes happened. In fact, there were two crashes,” Ogidan confirmed in a conversation with reporters. “In one, one person died, and we were able to rescue about five others. One was taken to our clinic, while the others were rushed to the hospital in Issele-Uku. In the other crash, four persons died, and we managed to rescue about five survivors.”
Ogidan attributed the accidents to fatigue and excessive speeding by drivers, who he said were overburdened by multiple trips. “Most of these drivers are doing multiple trips because of money. You just discover that due to tiredness, they lose control. The road conditions are okay, but speed and fatigue are the major causes,” he explained.
The FRSC commander commended the swift response of emergency personnel, which he said saved several lives. “We thank God because everybody could have died, but for our timely intervention. Many of them were given first aid at our clinic in Issele-Uku before being transferred to the hospital,” he added.
Ogidan also disclosed that another minor crash occurred on the same road on Tuesday morning, though no fatalities were reported. “I just received a report that another one happened this morning. Fortunately, there were no deaths. All passengers were rescued and taken to the hospital,” he said.
The FRSC is urging drivers to prioritize rest and adhere to speed limits to prevent further tragedies. “Speed and fatigue are the major forces. We cannot overemphasize the need for drivers to be cautious. Lives are at stake,” Ogidan warned.
Efforts are ongoing to ensure the safety of commuters along the Benin-Onitsha expressway, which remains one of the busiest and most accident-prone routes in Delta State.
