23 die in auto crashes

No fewer than 23 people have lost their lives in separate auto crashes in Ogun and Edo states, with the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) attributing the tragedies to reckless driving, wrongful overtaking and overloading.

In Ogun State, 11 persons died in a lone accident that occurred at Eruku Bridge along the Abeokuta-Lagos route on Saturday night.

The Ogun State Sector Command of the FRSC said the crash involved a gold Toyota vehicle with registration number GGE722KJ, which reportedly somersaulted and plunged off the bridge.

According to a statement issued by the FRSC Superintendent Route Commander of the Ogun Sector, Odunsin Afolabi, the impact trapped all the occupants inside the vehicle after the doors became locked.

“The sector commander, Corps Commander Oludare Ogunjobi, sadly informs the public of the tragic incident of a fatal lone accident at Eruku Bridge along the Abeokuta-Lagos route, which occurred earlier tonight, May 10, 2026.

“The FRSC rescue team from Itori Unit Command was deployed to the scene immediately. But unfortunately, all 11 people on board lost their lives in the crash,” the statement said.

Afolabi disclosed that preliminary investigations pointed to overloading and driving under the influence as the likely causes of the accident.

He added that FRSC officials, with assistance from members of the local community, had to dismantle parts of the vehicle to recover the bodies of the victims.

The corpses were later deposited at the State Specialist Hospital morgue in Ifo.

Reacting to the incident, Ogun State Sector Commander, Corps Commander Oludare Ogunjobi, sympathised with the bereaved families and urged motorists travelling along the Abeokuta-Lagos corridor to be more cautious, especially during night journeys.

In a separate incident in Edo State, 12 persons were confirmed dead in a fatal crash along the Benin–Auchi–Lokoja Road near Egono, close to Ewu.

The FRSC said the accident, which occurred on Wednesday, involved a truck reportedly transporting passengers and goods to Benin City.

The crash also left 14 persons injured, while several others reportedly escaped unhurt.

Eyewitnesses said about 37 passengers were on board the truck when the driver allegedly attempted a dangerous overtaking manoeuvre while speeding, leading to the fatal accident.

Spokesperson for the Edo State Command of the FRSC, Patricia Onwochei, confirmed the incident and attributed the crash to wrongful overtaking.

She said one of the deceased had already been buried, while the remaining 11 corpses were deposited at the mortuary of St. Lazarus Hospital in the area.

The twin tragedies have again raised concerns over persistent cases of reckless driving, overloading and poor compliance with road safety regulations across the country.