Tragedy struck the university community of Akungba-Akoko in Ondo State on Wednesday night as nine people, including a pregnant woman, a mother, and her child, were killed in a ghastly road accident involving a cement-laden truck.
The fatal crash occurred around 8:00 p.m. near the main gate of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), and the Holy Trinity Church — an area often crowded with traders, students, and commuters.
Eyewitnesses said the truck, heavily loaded with Dangote Cement and heading from Obajana in Kogi State, suffered a brake failure while descending a steep slope before losing control and ramming into several roadside shops and passersby.
The impact of the crash was devastating, crushing vehicles and motorcycles parked along the roadside and trapping victims under the massive truck. Rescue operations by locals, students, and emergency responders continued late into the night as they struggled to retrieve bodies from the wreckage.
According to residents, the scene of the accident has long been notorious for fatal crashes involving heavy-duty trucks. They recalled similar incidents in the past that claimed several lives, calling on the state government to take urgent steps to prevent future occurrences.
“The sound was like an explosion,” said a shop owner, Mrs. Rachael Ajayi, who narrowly escaped the tragedy. “I had just closed for the day when I saw the truck speeding uncontrollably down the slope. Before we could shout, it had already crushed everything in its path. It was horrifying.”
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Officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Ikare-Akoko Division confirmed the incident, stating that nine persons died on the spot while several others sustained varying degrees of injuries.
The FRSC Unit Commander, Mr. Ezekiel SonAllah, who spoke to reporters, said his team responded swiftly after receiving the distress call but met a chaotic scene. “It was a tragic situation. Our officers evacuated the injured to nearby hospitals and took the bodies of the deceased to the morgue,” he said.
He added that preliminary investigations indicated brake failure as the cause of the accident, urging truck drivers to ensure regular maintenance of their vehicles before embarking on long-distance trips.
The Ondo State Police Command also confirmed the crash, noting that an investigation has been launched to determine the extent of damage and possible negligence on the part of the driver and company involved.
In response, residents have appealed to the Ondo State Government and the university management to construct speed bumps and enforce a restriction on heavy-duty trucks passing through the community, especially during school hours.
As of Thursday morning, traffic along the busy Akungba–Owo highway had returned to normal, though grief and shock still enveloped the community.
Many students and residents gathered at the accident scene to mourn the victims, describing the incident as one tragedy too many in Akungba-Akoko’s long history of avoidable road crashes.