Tragedy In Akungba: Dangote Truck Crushes 8 People, Pregnant Woman Among The Dead

Akungba-Akoko, a lively university community in Ondo State, was plunged into deep sorrow on Wednesday night after a cement-laden truck belonging to Dangote Cement lost its brakes and rammed into traders and pedestrians, killing at least eight people instantly.

Among the victims were a pregnant woman, her mother, and her child, alongside other unsuspecting residents and passersby caught in the chaos.

The horrific crash occurred around 8:00 p.m. near the main gate of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), and the Holy Trinity Church, a busy section often filled with traders and students.

According to eyewitnesses, the truck, reportedly coming from Obajana, Kogi State, experienced brake failure while descending into the densely populated area and ploughed through roadside stalls and commuters.

“People were screaming and running, but there was no escape. Many were trapped beneath the truck. The pregnant woman and her child died instantly,” an eyewitness recounted in tears.

The force of the impact left several bodies mangled, while motorcycles and goods were crushed under the weight of the truck.

Residents Blame Government Over Removed Barricade

In the aftermath, angry residents blamed the government for removing the barricade that once restricted heavy-duty vehicles from passing through the town.

A local source alleged that some youths had turned the barricade into an illegal toll point before it was dismantled.

“Those boys were collecting ₦10,000 from truck drivers before allowing them through. We warned that this would happen again, but the government did nothing,” one resident lamented.

Confirming the tragedy, the Ondo State FRSC Sector Commander, Ezekiel Ibitoye, said the casualties included five men, two women, and a child.

“The truck rammed into a barricade near Adekunle Ajasin University and lost control, leading to multiple deaths,” Ibitoye stated.

He added that the victims’ bodies had been deposited at a morgue, while the injured were rushed to the Federal Medical Centre for emergency treatment.

A Recurring Tragedy in Akungba

For Akungba residents, this is a painful replay of a familiar nightmare. The university town has witnessed several fatal truck crashes in recent years.

In January 2021, another Dangote truck lost control near the same AAUA gate, killing several students and sparking violent protests demanding a permanent ban on articulated vehicles.

Wednesday’s incident, eerily similar to that of 2021, has reignited public anger and renewed calls for government intervention to protect lives.

Nationwide Pattern of Dangote Truck Fatalities

Beyond Akungba, Dangote trucks have been linked to numerous fatal accidents across Nigeria.

• In June 2020, a Dangote truck lost control in Kogi State, killing over 20 people, including schoolchildren.

• In September 2021, another crash along the Ogun–Ibadan Expressway claimed several lives.

• In 2022, deadly Dangote-related accidents were recorded in Lagos, Oyo, and Plateau States.

Despite repeated tragedies, calls for stricter regulation of heavy-duty trucks—particularly those belonging to large conglomerates—have largely gone unanswered.