The Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Shehu Mohammed, has expressed deep condolences to the families of the victims of two fatal crashes that occurred on the Lagos/Ibadan expressway on August 13, 2024. In a statement released today, Mohammed condemned the reckless driving behaviors that led to these tragic incidents and called for stricter adherence to road safety regulations.

The first crash, which occurred at 9:20 AM in Ibadan, involved four vehicles: a white Mack truck (AKM 548 ZY), a white Nissan bus (MUB 20 LG), a red Nissan Micra (BDJ 520 YC), and a blue Honda CRV (KRD 707 ER).

The truck, which experienced brake failure, lost control and crashed into the other three vehicles. The accident involved 35 people, including 14 male adults, 10 female adults, six female children, and five male children. Out of these, 17 sustained injuries while 16 lost their lives. The injured were taken to Amudalat Hospital in Ibadan, and the deceased were handed over to the Nigeria Police Force Divisional Office in Ibadan.

The second crash occurred at 3:14 PM in Malo and involved a white Mazda bus (DDA733XA). The driver, attempting a wrongful overtaking maneuver, lost control of the vehicle, resulting in a fatal accident. This crash involved 16 people: 12 male adults, three female adults, and one female child.

Twelve victims, including eight male adults, three female adults, and one female child, were killed, while the remaining four male adults sustained injuries. The deceased were taken to the FOS Morgue in Ipara.

In his statement, Corps Marshal Mohammed emphasised the need for all road users to adhere strictly to road safety regulations to prevent such tragedies.

"Drivers and other road users must, as a matter of necessity, imbibe all safe road use attributes and discard any temptation to contravene established road traffic regulations", he stated.

He also reiterated the FRSC's ongoing efforts to partner with the judiciary to ensure that drivers involved in fatal crashes face legal consequences. He directed the immediate arrest and prosecution of the driver of the articulated vehicle involved in the Ibadan crash, who fled the scene.

"The Corps is already intensifying efforts in its partnership with the judiciary to ensure that all drivers involved in fatal crashes, apart from the withdrawal of their licenses, are also made to face the wrath of the law", Mohammed stated.

Olusegun Ogungbemide, the Corps Public Education Officer, signed the statement, reaffirming the FRSC's commitment to improving road safety and reducing fatalities on Nigerian roads.

As the nation mourns the loss of lives in these tragic incidents, the FRSC calls on all drivers to exercise caution and prioritise safety to prevent future occurrences.