A fatal road crash has claimed the lives of eight people in Akungba-Akoko, a university town in Akoko South West Local Government Area of Ondo State. The victims include five men, two women, and a male child.
According to the Ondo State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), the accident occurred around 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday and involved a truck loaded with stone dust and a motorcycle.
The truck reportedly lost control and rammed into a barricade near the entrance of Adekunle Ajasin University.
The FRSC commander, who confirmed the incident in a telephone interview, urged motorists to exercise greater caution during the “ember months” and to always ensure their vehicles are in good condition before travelling.
The bodies of the deceased have been deposited at a nearby hospital morgue.
The Public Relations Officer of the university’s Students’ Union Government, Mosadoluwa Ajidagba, said the accident was caused by an articulated vehicle that suffered brake failure while descending from Ikare towards Akungba.
The truck reportedly crashed into a permanent barricade at the university’s main gate.
Ajidagba noted that about ten people were feared dead in the incident, adding that the Students’ Union had previously appealed for heavy-duty trucks to be restricted from using the road to prevent recurring tragedies.
He called on students to remain calm, law-abiding, and avoid the highway for safety reasons.
Reacting to the tragedy, the Executive Chairman of Akoko South West Local Government, Ayo Ajana, expressed deep sorrow over the incident and extended condolences to the families of the victims.
He pledged to collaborate with state and local authorities to implement long-term safety measures in the area and other accident-prone locations within the local government.