19 Die in Separate Road Crashes in Edo and Taraba States

Nineteen people have died, and several others have been injured in separate road accidents in Edo and Taraba states. In Taraba, seven persons, including two minors and two women, died when a commercial vehicle collided head-on with a trailer on the Bali–Serti road.

In Edo, 12 people died, and 14 were injured when a speeding truck conveying passengers and goods overturned at Egono community along the Auchi–Ewu–Benin road. The FRSC attributed the Edo crash to wrongful overtaking.

Key Points:

The Taraba vehicle was overloaded, designed for six but carrying up to nine passengers.
Rising fuel costs and alleged extortion were cited as reasons for overloading.
All seven Taraba victims died on the spot and were evacuated to Bali General Hospital.
One Edo victim has been buried, while 11 bodies are at St. Lazarus Hospital mortuary.
The FRSC confirmed the Edo crash and blamed dangerous overtaking.

The crashes highlight persistent issues of overloading and reckless driving on Nigerian roads.

Sources: Daily Trust