A tragic accident late Sunday claimed the lives of two individuals when a keke-bus collided with a parked trailer near the Air Force flyover, different eyewitnesses reported. The incident, which occurred hours before midnight, left two others injured and underscored ongoing road safety challenges in Nigeria.
According to a post on X by Portharcourt Specials, the crash involved a keke-bus that rammed into the stationary trailer. The post, accompanied by images of the scene, indicated that the driver and one passenger were confirmed dead at the scene, while two other passengers were rushed to a hospital. The exact condition of the injured remains unclear. One commenter, ipraywellnoted, “I saw the trailer around 9 pm, split at a dangerous place while approaching the flyover coming from Eliozu.
No caution sign, I was close to it before I saw it. The way I match break ehn!” suggesting the trailer’s positioning and lack of warning signs may have contributed to the crash. The accident took place around 8:34 p.m. WAT, amplifying concerns about nighttime road safety in the region. The proximity to the Air Force flyover, a strategic military area, may have influenced emergency response times, though no official statement has confirmed delays.
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Nigeria’s road safety issues have drawn international attention, with the World Health Organisation reporting approximately 40,000 annual road traffic deaths in 2023, often linked to poor infrastructure and lax enforcement. This incident follows a disturbing trend of vehicular collisions across the country. On June 1, a bus crash in Kano killed 22 athletes, highlighting deficiencies in vehicle maintenance and driver training.
A 2024 analysis in the African Journal of Transportation revealed that 60% of keke-bus drivers lack formal licensing, a statistic that may contribute to such accidents. The Federal Road Safety Corps has yet to release an official report, but local sources suggest the crash could be tied to inadequate lighting or driver error. A 2021 study in the Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery noted a 30% increase in fatality rates when emergency response times exceed 20 minutes, a concern that may resonate in this case, given the location.
Authorities are investigating the cause of the crash, and the community awaits further updates on the injured passengers’ conditions. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for improved road safety measures in Nigeria.
