The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has confirmed the death of 16 people in an accident at Aku village along the Okene–Lokoja Road in Kogi State.

The FRSC also confirmed that six people sustained varying degrees of injury in the crash.

Lawan Fagge, the state sector commander, in a statement on Friday, said the accident, which occurred at about 9:20 p.m. on Thursday, involved a white commercial Toyota Hiace bus with registration number BUS 17 ZD.

According to him, a total of 22 people were involved in the lone crash, comprising 21 adult males and 1 adult female.

He disclosed that 16 victims, 15 male adults and one female adult, died at the scene of the accident, while the remaining six male passengers sustained varying degrees of injuries.

The FRSC sector commander said preliminary findings from injured survivors indicated that fatigue and speeding were responsible for the crash.

He noted that the vehicle was travelling from Jos to Lagos before the incident occurred.

Mr Fagge stated that one of the rescued victims was taken to the Specialist Hospital, Lokoja, while the other five injured passengers were receiving treatment at Osara Hospital.

Describing the crash as avoidable, the sector commander condemned night journeys undertaken without adequate rest, stressing that the driver could have stopped at a park to rest before continuing the trip.

He also used the opportunity to advise motorists against driving under stress and overspeeding, warning that such practices continued to contribute significantly to road crashes across the country.

Mr Fagge sympathised with the families of the deceased and wished the injured victims a speedy recovery. 

(NAN)