Tragedy in Kogi: 12 Perish in Midnight Bus Crash

The festive air in Kogi State was replaced by a somber stillness this weekend following the confirmation of a gruesome auto crash that claimed twelve lives along the Ejule–Enugu highway. The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) reported that the incident, which occurred late Friday night, involved a commercial bus that collided with a stationary truck. Among the victims of this dark Friday was a young child, whose life was cut short just as the nation enters the peak of the yuletide travel season.

According to Mr. Tenimu Etuku, the FRSC Sector Commander in Kogi, the disaster unfolded at approximately 11:30 p.m. in the Iboko community, located within the Idah Local Government Area. The vehicle involved was an 18-seater Toyota Hiace bus belonging to Romchi Mass Transit, a popular fleet often used for long-distance travel. The bus was reportedly en route from the nation’s capital, Abuja, heading toward the eastern part of the country for the holidays.

Preliminary investigations by road safety officials suggest that the primary cause of the carnage was a combination of excessive speed and poor visibility. The passenger bus reportedly rammed into a heavy-duty articulated vehicle that had been parked on the shoulder of the road due to a mechanical fault. The impact was so severe that twelve of the fourteen occupants were killed almost instantly, leaving the wreckage a mangled heap of metal and glass on the busy transit corridor.

Two survivors were pulled from the debris by FRSC rescue teams who arrived at the scene shortly after the collision. The injured victims were rushed to the Mercy of Jesus Hospital in Ejule, where they are currently receiving emergency medical attention for various degrees of trauma. Meanwhile, the remains of the deceased have been deposited at a local morgue as authorities begin the difficult task of identifying the victims and contacting their families.

Speaking to newsmen in Lokoja on Saturday, Commander Etuku described the accident as a “fatal and very unfortunate” event that could have been avoided with greater caution. He expressed his deepest condolences to the families of those who lost their lives, noting that the loss of a child made the tragedy particularly heartbreaking. The commander used the occasion to issue a stern warning to motorists about the perils of night travel and the culture of “rushing” during the December period.

The FRSC has long campaigned against the dangers of overspeeding, especially on highways like the Ejule–Enugu road which often feature broken-down vehicles and sharp bends. Etuku reiterated that adhering strictly to traffic regulations is the only way to minimize the “alarming rate” of fatalities currently being recorded on Nigerian roads. He emphasized that mechanical breakdowns are a reality of road travel, and it is the responsibility of other drivers to maintain a speed that allows for sudden maneuvers or braking.

As the yuletide season reaches its crescendo, the Kogi Command has pledged to increase its presence on major highways to enforce speed limits and discourage reckless overtaking. The sector commander urged drivers of commercial fleets to prioritize the lives of their passengers over the desire for quick “turnarounds” or extra profit during the holiday rush. “Patience is not just a virtue; on the road, it is a lifesaver,” he remarked.

This latest incident has reignited conversations regarding the safety of night travel in Nigeria, where poor road lighting and the presence of unlit, broken-down trucks create a lethal environment for high-speed transit. Transport experts have often called for stricter enforcement of the use of reflective warning triangles by articulated vehicle drivers when they experience a breakdown, a measure that might have alerted the ill-fated bus driver in the Iboko community.

For now, the Iboko community remains in a state of shock as the local government grapples with the aftermath of one of the deadliest crashes in the area this year. The FRSC has assured the public that it will continue to monitor the survivors and provide necessary support for the investigation. They have also appealed to the federal government and transport unions to work together in sensitizing drivers about the psychological and physical demands of long-distance driving during the festive season.

The road safety boss concluded his briefing with a plea for collective responsibility, stating that while the government provides the framework for safety, the ultimate decision to drive carefully lies with the person behind the wheel. As many Nigerians continue their journeys to various parts of the country for Christmas and New Year celebrations, the tragedy in Kogi serves as a grim reminder that every kilometer traveled requires absolute focus and respect for the rules of the road.