At least 15 people lost their lives, while 17 others were seriously injured in a fatal lone trailer crash along the Ogbomoso-Oloru highway at Oko-Olowo axis in Ilorin South Local Government Area of Kwara State.
The fatal crash occurred at about 2:32 a.m. on Monday near the Muslim Cemetery in Oko-Olowo and involved a DAF XF trailer with registration number GWL 274 XC, driven by one Nasiru Muhammed.
Situation report released by the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Kwara Sector Command, indicated that a total of 48 male occupants were involved in the accident.
While 15 died on the spot, 17 sustained injuries ranging from fractures, dislocations and bruises, while 16 others escaped unhurt.
The FRSC blamed the crash on driver fatigue, noting that emergency responders arrived at the scene within five minutes of receiving the distress call.
The injured victims were evacuated to Arewa Medical Centre and Baki Hospital for treatment, while the bodies of the deceased were handed over to their families and the Sarkin Hausawa of Oko-Olowo for burial.
A statement in Ilorin on Monday by Taofeek Sanusi, added that rescue operations were jointly carried out by personnel of the FRSC Oloru Unit Command and the Oko-Olowo outpost, with efforts continuing to search for more victims believed to be trapped beneath the trailer’s load.
The state Sector Commander, Kabiru Babatunde Kazeem, was at the crash scene to coordinate rescue and recovery operations.
Speaking on measures to prevent similar tragedies, the sector commander, said the command would intensify public enlightenment campaigns through town hall meetings involving critical stakeholders.
He advised motorists to avoid mixed loading and night travelling, stressing that fatigue remains one of the leading causes of fatal road crashes.
