Truck Carrying Dangote Cement Kills Pregnant Woman, Child, Six Others in Ondo

A fatal road accident on Wednesday night claimed the lives of nine people, including a pregnant woman, a mother, and her child, in the Akungba-Akoko community of Ondo State. The crash involved a truck loaded with Dangote Cement and occurred near the main gate of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), close to the Holy Trinity Church.

According to eyewitnesses, the truck, which was travelling from Obajana in Kogi State, reportedly suffered brake failure around 8:00 p.m. before ramming into traders and pedestrians in the busy area.

The tragic incident sparked outrage among residents and sympathisers, who blamed the accident on the removal of a barricade that had previously restricted heavy-duty vehicles from passing through the community.

“This could have been avoided,” one resident lamented. “Some boys in the community had been collecting ₦10,000 from truck drivers before letting them through the barricade, and the authorities ignored it.”

The accident, locals said, rekindled painful memories of previous fatal crashes in the same area involving articulated vehicles.

Confirming the incident, the Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Ondo State, Mr. Ibitoye, stated that eight people died on the spot.

“The deceased include five males, two females, and one child,” he said. “The truck lost control after running into a barricade near the university, leading to the crash.”