At least 12 people were burnt to death in a fatal road crash that occurred in the early hours of Saturday in Edo State.
The tragedy struck around 5 a.m. at Igueoviobo community, near an Army checkpoint along the Benin-Auchi Road.
Edo Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Cyril Mathew, confirmed the crash, which involved a Toyota Hiace commercial bus and an articulated truck.
According to Mathew, all passengers in the bus were burnt beyond recognition, while the truck driver and his conductor escaped unhurt in the crash
“The bus departed from Zuba, Federal Capital Territory, en route to Benin but collided with a truck heading toward Auchi. Unfortunately, all occupants of the bus lost their lives,” he said.
Mathew suggested that driver fatigue may have contributed to the accident.
“The crash happened in the early morning hours, and it is likely that the bus driver, coming from Abuja, fell asleep at the wheel, leading to the collision with the truck,” he explained.
Rescue officials retrieved the vehicle’s manifest, enabling them to contact the families of the deceased.
The FRSC commander urged drivers to take breaks whenever they feel fatigued to prevent similar tragedies.
