The Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency (TRACE) has retracted its earlier statement regarding the ownership of the truck involved in Friday night’s fatal crash that claimed five lives in Yewa South Local Government Area of Ogun State.
The tragic incident occurred around 8:30 p.m. at the Alapoka axis of the Papalanto–Ilaro Road.
In an initial statement on Saturday, TRACE spokesperson, Babatunde Akinbiyi, had identified the vehicles involved as “an unregistered tricycle and a Dangote Cement truck with the number plate GRZ 767 XA.”
He added that “the Acting TRACE Head, Adedayo Omonayajo, and the Ilaro Divisional Commander, Salako Idowu, led a rescue team to the scene immediately after receiving the report.”
However, speaking later with NAIJAONPOINT correspondent, Akinbiyi clarified that “the truck involved in the unfortunate incident does not belong to Dangote, but to a third-party logistics company contracted to haul cement products.”
The clarification followed growing confusion within the community and on social media, where many had accused the Dangote Group of negligence.
Eyewitnesses said the driver, after reportedly losing control, swerved off the road and rammed into the tricycle, killing all five occupants on the spot. The impact triggered outrage among residents, who almost lynched the driver and attacked TRACE officials that arrived for rescue operations.
“It took the swift intervention of the Amotekun Corps to restore order and prevent a total breakdown of law and order,” one eyewitness recounted.
Akinbiyi added that “the presumed dead were taken to the morgue by officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).”
Meanwhile, the Ogun State Government has extended its condolences to the families of the victims, describing the incident as “avoidable and deeply regrettable.”