KEY POINTS

• A tanker brake failure caused a multi-vehicle crash in Ota, killing six people and injuring two.
• Victims were taken to local hospitals while authorities began investigations.
• Officials ordered roadside traders removed and urged stricter vehicle safety checks.

A fatal road accident on Tuesday morning claimed six lives and left two others injured at the Old Toll Gate area of Ota along the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway in Ogun State.

The accident, which occurred around 8 a.m., involved a tanker loaded with vegetable oil and two other vehicles.

According to the Federal Road Safety Corps, preliminary findings show that the articulated tanker suffered brake failure while approaching the busy toll gate, causing the driver to lose control.

The vehicle rammed into other vehicles and bystanders, leading to multiple casualties during the accident.

Authorities confirmed that six adults; five men and one woman, died in the crash, while two others sustained varying degrees of injuries. FRSC rescue teams responded swiftly, transporting victims to medical facilities.

The injured were taken to Ota General Hospital for treatment, while the bodies of the deceased were deposited at the morgue of Ifo General Hospital.

Local Authorities React to the Accident, Order Safety Measures

The chairman of Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area visited the accident scene to sympathise with victims’ families and assess the situation. In response to the incident, he ordered the immediate removal of illegal traders operating along the roadside near the toll gate, describing them as a safety hazard that could worsen accidents in the high-traffic corridor.

He also pledged collaboration with road safety and security agencies to enforce compliance and prevent a repeat of such tragedies.

Sector Commander Akinwunmi Fasakin urged motorists, especially drivers of heavy-duty and articulated vehicles, to conduct thorough mechanical inspections before embarking on journeys.

He emphasized that strict vehicle maintenance is essential to preventing avoidable crashes and reiterated the FRSC’s commitment to protecting lives and property on Nigerian roads.