A devastating road accident in Akungba-Akoko, Ondo State, has claimed the lives of eight people, including a child and a pregnant woman. The accident, which occurred on Wednesday night near the main gate of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), involved a truck that reportedly suffered brake failure.
Akungba-Akoko has a documented history of fatal accidents involving heavy-duty trucks descending the hilly highway that passes through the community. Local authorities had previously erected a barricade near the university gate to prevent large vehicles from accessing the route. The truck involved in this incident was able to bypass or break through the barricade, crashing into the highly populated area near the university.
Though initial reports linked the truck to Dangote Cement, the Dangote Group denied ownership, stating the vehicle belonged to an independent logistics company and was carrying crushed stones. They urged the public and media to verify details, stressing that their fleet operates under strict safety and compliance standards.
An eyewitness linked the tragedy to poor enforcement of traffic controls. He stated that;
Some boys in the community had been using the barricade erected to extort N10,000 from the truck drivers before allowing them to pass through undermining the safety of residents for financial gain
The FRSC confirmed the fatalities and the circumstances that resulted in the accident, attributing the crash to the truck running into a barricade and losing control.
The accident necessitates an immediate, thorough investigation into the circumstances of the crash, particularly the alleged extortion that undermines the safety of residents, in oder to protect the university community and prevent similar recurring tragedies.
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