Tragedy in Ondo: Pregnant Woman, Nine Others Killed as Truck Loses Control in Akungba-Akoko

A fatal accident in the Akungba-Akoko area of Ondo State has claimed the lives of ten people, including a pregnant woman, after a truck lost control and crashed into roadside shops along the Owo-Akungba-Ikare Akoko Expressway.

Eyewitnesses told Vanguard that the truck, heavily loaded with cement, veered off the road and rammed into several shops, killing victims instantly.

“The driver lost control of the truck and swerved off the road into the shops,” one local source said. “The truck came from the top of the hill. We’re not sure if the barricade was open or if it was destroyed by the trailer. About five people died immediately, and others were trapped under the vehicle.”

Confirming the incident, the Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Ondo State, Mr. Samuel Ibitoye, said the crash involved a truck carrying cement that ran into a barricade near Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), before losing control.

“No fewer than eight people were killed — five males, two females, and one male child,” Ibitoye said. “We urge motorists to always ensure their vehicles are in good condition before travelling and to obey traffic rules at all times.”

Reacting to the tragedy, the Public Relations Officer of the AAUA Students’ Union Government (SUG), Akinibobola Ajidagba, described the incident as “deeply painful,” noting that the truck, reportedly belonging to the Dangote Group, suffered brake failure before the crash.

“We regret to inform the student community that an articulated vehicle belonging to the Dangote Group suffered brake failure from Ikare en route Akungba,” Ajidagba said. “It destroyed the permanent barricade at the university’s main gate, leading to the deaths of close to 10 people.”

He added that the Students’ Union had repeatedly warned about the dangers of heavy-duty trucks plying the Akungba road.

“We have made several efforts to stop trucks from using this road, as they endanger the lives of students and residents. We urge students to remain calm, stay off the highway, and cooperate with authorities as we maintain peace and order,” he said.

The bodies of the deceased have been deposited at the government hospital morgue in the university community.

A police officer, who requested anonymity, described the crash as “pathetic and avoidable.”

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