Five people were killed and two others injured on Thursday morning in a tragic road crash on the outskirts of Akure, the Ondo State capital.
The accident, which occurred around 9:00 a.m. at a junction near the Ilu-Abo community in Akure North Local Government Area, involved a Nissan Sunny car and a DAF tipper truck.
Those who died were reportedly traders traveling to Ogbese market in a neighboring community to sell their goods.
Confirming the incident, the Ondo State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Samuel Ibitoye, blamed the crash on excessive speeding.
“Seven people were involved. Five were killed—one male adult, three female adults, and one female child—while two others sustained injuries,” Ibitoye said.
He added that personnel of the FRSC Owo Unit Command had evacuated the bodies to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Owo.
Ibitoye lamented what he described as the rising number of avoidable crashes on major routes in the state. He said the command had intensified sensitization efforts, especially among tipper drivers and other motorists along the busy Akure–Ogbese corridor, to promote safer driving habits.
Expressing sadness over the tragedy, the FRSC commander urged motorists to ensure proper vehicle maintenance and adopt defensive driving techniques, particularly during the ember months, when road traffic incidents typically surge.
“We urge all motorists to drive responsibly at all times to safeguard lives and support national development,” he added.
Thursday’s crash occurred around the same time a separate multiple accident at the Kara Bridge end of the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway claimed the lives of a policeman and about five others.
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