Ondo, Nigeria — In a tragic turn of events, at least 30 people were killed when two commercial buses collided head-on and erupted into flames on the Benin-Ore-Ijebu Ode Expressway in Ondo State, Nigeria. Among the deceased were two Ghanaian couples and their baby girl, adding a poignant layer to this devastating incident. The crash, which took place on Saturday evening 1st February, has left the local community, along with the Ghanaian community, in mourning.
According to Samuel Ibitoye, the Ondo State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), the accident occurred at the Onipetesi community in the Odigbo Local Government Area. Preliminary investigations suggest that one of the buses was driving against traffic, leading to the catastrophic collision.
“Thirty people lost their lives in this horrific accident,” Ibitoye confirmed to CountryGhana News. “Of those, twenty-eight were burnt beyond recognition. Two others initially survived the crash but unfortunately passed away while being transported to the hospital. Among the victims were two Ghanaian families who were traveling together.”
Eyewitness accounts describe a scene of chaos, with flames engulfing both vehicles shortly after impact, leaving little chance for rescue. The FRSC has urged for increased caution among drivers, emphasizing the dangers of speeding and the importance of adhering to traffic regulations.
The remains of the deceased have been taken to a nearby morgue for identification, a process complicated by the severe nature of the burns. The FRSC is working on notifying the families, a task that will be heart-wrenching, especially for the Ghanaian relatives now dealing with the profound loss of their loved ones.
This disaster adds to the concerning statistics of road accidents in Nigeria, where poor road conditions, inadequate vehicle maintenance, and reckless driving are often cited as significant contributing factors.
As the investigation continues, the FRSC has promised to release more details on how this accident could have been avoided, hoping to bring some measure of closure to the bereaved families, both in Nigeria and Ghana, and to prevent future occurrences.
CountryGhana News’s coverage of this tragic event is ongoing, and we will continue to update this story as more information becomes available.