From AMEDU JOSEPH, Lokoja
THE Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), has confirmed that 13 persons died while 2 others were critically injured in an automobile accident which occurred at about 7:30 pm on Easter day at Obajana Market, Kogi State.
Samuel Oyedeji, Kogi State Sector Commander of the FRSC, who confirmed the accident, said the accident involved a commercial Sharon bus and an articulated cement truck.
He added that the bus had parked by the market so that some passengers would alight when the cement truck experienced brake failure and rammed into it from behind.
“As soon as the truck rammed into the bus, it immediately went up in flames and burnt virtually all the passengers inside it, in addition to two trucks and a motorcycle,” he explained.
The bus was reportedly heading to Abuja from the southern part of the country.
The FRSC boss added: “Our personnel, who were on rescue operations with Red Cross Nigeria and police officers, couldn’t save the situation due to the fierceness of the fire.
“But the charred remains of the affected persons were collected while the two injured persons have been taken to Fisayo Hospital, Obajana for medical attention.”
He expressed worry that no hospital in Kogi agreed to take the charred bodies which might force the authorities to give them a mass burial if no relations come to claim them.
The sector commander, who described the incident as “Very sad and unfortunate,” cautioned motorists against over speeding and poor maintenance of vehicles.
