The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) has promised to soon publish the names of victims of yesterday’s multiple crash that along Benin-Ore Expressway that claimed scores of lives.

“We will soon publish the names, but just waiting to be sure that the relations of the victims get to know first,” said Dr. Kayode Olagunju, a top official of the FRSC, while commenting on the conflicting figures of casualties in the crash. While the FRSC has put the death toll at 36, some media reports have quoted figures of 100 and above.

Meanwhile, a statement issued late yesterday by the FRSC headquarters in Abuja, the Nigerian capital, gave a full description of how the accident happened and the vehicles involved. Issued by Jonas Agwu, Corps Commander, Corps Public Education Officer, on behalf of Corps Marshal and Chief Executive Osita Chidoka, the statement said:

“36 persons were feared dead this afternoon in a multiple fatal crash at Igbogui market along the Ore - Benin highway which involved a Dangote truck, a tanker laden with pms (fuel) and a luxury bus belonging to the Young Shall Grow Transport Company.
“Preliminary reports from the FRSC indicated that a tyre from the Dangote truck suddenly pulled out and rammed into the Tanker which caught fire immediately. The Luxury bus which was on speed, lost control and ran into the blazing fire, consuming its occupants.
“However, an FRSC team was on hand to rescue 3 passengers while 30 others died from the Luxury bus. The Tanker driver with his conductor, in addition to the Truck driver and his conductor were also confirmed dead. Two children were also consumed by the fire which spread to a nearby mechanic workshop, burning 8 additional vehicles resulting to a heavy traffic gridlock.
“Meanwhile, a detachment of the FRSC, Police and the Construction Company were at the scene for intensive traffic control and diversion of route to ensure seamless traffic flow along the corridor.”

The statement disclosed that the commission had contacted Young Shall Grow transport company “to ascertain from its manifest, the 30 persons that boarded the bus earlier in the day from the Jibowu terminus to Enugu.”
The FRSC vowed to henceforth prosecute drivers and companies whose vehicles cause such accidents.

“Disturbed by the recent spate of road crash fatalities linked to speeding and reckless driving, the Federal Road Safety Corps has concluded plans to evoke its statutory mandate by instituting legal actions against the driver and transport operators whose vehicles are responsible for such crashes. Part of this arrangement include the Corps’ resolve to assist victims and relations of road crash victims to seek compensation from such fleet operators,” the statement concluded.

•Photo, courtesy of the FRSC, shows the fatal multiple crash.