Many people were burnt to death in an auto crash at Oko-Olowo, along the Ilorin-Jebba expressway, in Ilorin, Kwara State.
According to the Tribune Online, the auto crash occurred at about 8:30 a.m. on Friday, 28th February 2025, when a trailer carrying fertilizer and a petrol-laden truck collided while overtaking, resulting in an inferno.
Unconfirmed sources put the number of burnt victims at not less than 60 people, said to be traveling from the northern part of the country.
Eyewitnesses said that victims were burnt beyond recognition in the auto crash, adding that the affected vehicles burned for over two hours.
It was gathered that no vehicles from either side of the road could move while the incident lasted.
It was also learned that officials of the state fire service arrived at the scene at about 10:30 a.m. after the losses, to put out the raging fire.
It was a gory sight, as burnt skulls and other parts of human bodies, like legs, arms, etc., were seen being burned inside the affected vehicles, while other parts of the victims had been burnt to ashes at the scene of the accident.
One of the eyewitnesses of the incident, Sheu Arobadi, said that the trailer loaded with fertilizer tried to overtake a petrol-laden truck, and the two vehicles collided on the sides, thus resulting in an inferno.
The eyewitness, who said that occupants on top of the trailer scrambled for safety immediately the incident happened, added that so were the occupants of the truck carrying the fertilizer, who he said jumped from the top of the vehicle to escape being caught up in the ensuing flame.
“Many of the people suffered broken legs and arms as they were jumping down from the vehicles. A father had to throw one of his children out of the burning vehicles before he could also jump down. Those who sustained injuries and fractures had been rushed to nearby hospitals for medical attention,” he said.
Arobadi, who said that he lives around the area, added that several road accidents occur at least once every week along the expressway, with heavy losses of lives and property.
Residents of the area called on the government to find a lasting solution to the frequent occurrence of crashes along the road, while suggesting the construction of an overhead bridge to check the development.
