Deadly Head-On Collision: 30 Killed as Two Buses Crash, Catch Fire on Benin-Ore-Ijebu Ode Expressway

A tragic road accident occurred on Saturday evening on the Benin-Ore-Ijebu Ode Expressway in Onipetesi in the Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State, resulting in the deaths of at least 30 people.

The devastating crash involved two buses that collided head-on, subsequently bursting into flames and claiming the lives of those on board.

The Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Mr. Samuel Ibitoye, disclosed this in a statement released on Sunday.

Ibitoye revealed that preliminary investigations showed one of the vehicles involved in the accident was driving against traffic.

He said: “Thirty people lost their lives in the accident. Twenty-eight persons were burnt beyond recognition, while two initially survived but later died on their way to the hospital.”

The commander appealed to motorists to exercise caution while driving on the expressway and to strictly obey traffic laws and regulations.

Eyewitness account also said the accident happened when the two commercial buses crashed into each other and burst into flames, resulting in no survivors.

“We were nearby when we heard a very loud sound. On reaching the scene, we saw two vehicles that had collided, already burning, while some people inside were struggling to escape.

“Shortly after, FRSC officers arrived at the scene and rushed the only two survivors to the hospital. However, we later learnt that they also died,” a witness said.

Nigeria has experienced a surge in deadly road accidents since the beginning of the year, leading to substantial loss of life and property.

Persecondnews recalls that 98 people lost their lives on January 19, 2025, while scooping fuel from a crashed tanker at Dikko Junction along the expressway between Niger and Kaduna states.

At least 56 residents sustained varying degrees of burns and were rushed to different hospitals for treatment.

Also on January 25, 2025, a fuel-laden tanker experienced brake failure, fell, and burst into flames, killing at least 21 people and injuring many others along the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway, specifically at the Ugwu Onyeama axis.