A tragic road accident in Akungba Akoko, Akoko South-West Local Government Area of Ondo State, has claimed at least eight lives, including a pregnant woman and a child.
The accident, which occurred on Wednesday evening near the Holy Trinity Church, threw the entire town into chaos as residents and students of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko (AAUA) rushed to the scene.
According to eyewitnesses, the crash involved a truck allegedly owned by Dangote Cement which reportedly lost control and rammed into several roadside shops along the Owo–Akungba–Ikare Expressway.
Confirming the incident, the Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Ondo State, Mr. Samuel Ibitoye, said the truck lost control after hitting a barricade in front of the university.
“The truck ran into a barricade and lost control, resulting in the crash. No fewer than eight people were killed, comprising five males, two females, and one male child,” Ibitoye said.
He urged motorists to ensure their vehicles are in good condition before embarking on journeys and to obey traffic regulations to prevent further tragedies.
Reacting to the incident, the Public Relations Officer of the AAUA Students’ Union Government, Akinibobola Ajidagba, described the crash as “heartbreaking” and called for urgent government intervention.
“We regret to inform the entire student populace that an articulated vehicle belonging to Dangote Cement suffered brake failure from Ikare en route to Akungba and destroyed the permanent barricade erected at the university’s main gate,” he said.
Ajidagba recalled that the Students’ Union had repeatedly warned against allowing heavy-duty trucks to ply the Akungba route, citing previous accidents involving university students.
“As it stands, close to 10 people have lost their lives in this tragic incident. We have consistently called for a ban on trucks from plying Akungba roads because they endanger the lives of our students,” he added.
The Students’ Union urged students to remain calm, avoid the accident area, and cooperate with authorities as rescue and clearance operations continue.
However, when contacted, Dangote Group’s spokesperson, Anthony Chiejina, told Naijaonpoint that the vehicle in question does not belong to the company.