Nineteen people died in separate road crashes in Edo and Taraba states. In Taraba, seven people, including two minors and two women, died in a head-on collision between a commercial vehicle and a trailer at about 4:40 pm on Tuesday in the Garbabi area of Gashaka Local Government Area. The commercial vehicle, en route from Bali to Serti, was carrying 11 passengers despite being designed for only six. Haruna Lukman of the Nigeria Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), Bali branch, said the crash occurred while negotiating a sharp bend near Kabarin Baturi village. All victims died on the spot and were taken to Bali General Hospital by NARTO officials, police, and bystanders. Lukman attributed the frequent overloading of such vehicles to rising fuel costs and alleged extortion by security agents. The Taraba State Police Command spokesperson, ASP Victor Mshelizah, did not respond to inquiries by press time.
In Edo State, 12 people died and 14 were injured in a crash over the weekend at Egono community along the Auchi–Ewu–Benin road. A truck conveying both passengers and goods overturned after attempting a dangerous overtaking manoeuvre at high speed. Edo FRSC spokesperson Patricia Onwochei confirmed the incident, citing wrongful overtaking as the cause. One victim had been buried, while the remaining 11 bodies were taken to St. Lazarus Hospital mortuary.
The same commercial vehicle cited in the Taraba crash was routinely overloaded due to rising fuel costs and alleged extortion, yet no enforcement action has been taken despite known risks. Twelve victims in Edo and seven in Taraba died in preventable crashes involving vehicles carrying passengers beyond capacity or at dangerous speeds. Haruna Lukman publicly linked overloading to financial pressure and security agent conduct, but no official has responded. Nigerians continue to die on roads where known violations meet delayed accountability.
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