The sector commander noted that the minivan had parked behind a truck around the market for passengers to buy some things when the cement truck lost its brake and rammed into it from behind.
At least 13 people have been killed while two others sustained injuries in an auto crash at Obajana Market along Obajana-Lokoja Road in Lokoja Local Government Area of Kogi State.
It was learnt that the incident occurred on Sunday around 7:30 pm.
The Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC Kogi Sector Commander, Mr Samuel Oyedeji, made this known while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria. He said the accident involved a commercial Volkswagen Sharan minivan, heading to Abuja from the southern part of the country.
The sector commander noted that the minivan had parked behind a truck around the market for passengers to buy some things when the cement truck lost its brake and rammed into it from behind.
He said that “as soon as the truck rammed into the bus, it immediately went into flame and burnt virtually all the passengers inside it”.
“Also burnt were the bus, two trucks and a motorcycle.
“The bus was reportedly heading to Abuja from the southern part of the country.
“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 said.
The sector commander, however, lamented that no hospital in Kogi agreed to take the charred remains of the accident victims for keeps, saying the development might force the authorities to give them a mass burial if no relation came around.
He described the incident as “very sad and unfortunate”, and cautioned motorists against speeding and failing to give their vehicles proper maintenance.
Meanwhile, he urged motorists to always check their vehicles to ensure everything is in order before embarking on a journey to avoid road crashes.