15 Killed, 17 Injured as Trailer Crashes on Ogbomoso-Ilorin Highway in Kwara

A devastating road accident has claimed the lives of at least 15 people and left 17 others seriously injured after a trailer crashed along the Ogbomoso-Oloru highway in Kwara State.

The lone crash occurred around 2:32 a.m. on Monday near the Muslim Cemetery at Oko-Olowo in Ilorin South Local Government Area. The accident involved a DAF XF trailer with registration number GWL 274 XC, driven by Nasiru Muhammed.

According to the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Kwara Sector Command, a total of 48 male occupants were travelling in the vehicle when the crash occurred. Fifteen victims died at the scene, while 17 others sustained varying degrees of injuries, including fractures, dislocations and bruises. Sixteen passengers escaped without injuries.

The FRSC attributed the tragic incident to driver fatigue, noting that emergency responders arrived at the crash site within five minutes after receiving a distress call.

Injured victims were taken to Arewa Medical Centre and Baki Hospital for medical treatment, while the bodies of those who lost their lives were released to their families and the Sarkin Hausawa of Oko-Olowo for burial.

A statement issued in Ilorin by the Sector Public Education Officer, Taofeek Sanusi, said rescue operations were carried out jointly by personnel of the FRSC Oloru Unit Command and the Oko-Olowo outpost. Search efforts continued at the scene amid fears that additional victims could still be trapped beneath the trailer’s cargo.

Kwara State Sector Commander of the FRSC, Kabiru Babatunde Kazeem, personally supervised the rescue and recovery operation at the crash site.

Following the tragedy, Kazeem announced plans to intensify public awareness campaigns through town hall meetings with transport operators and other stakeholders. He also advised motorists to avoid night journeys and the dangerous practice of mixed loading, stressing that driver fatigue remains one of the leading causes of fatal road crashes in Nigeria