A tragic accident in Akungba-Akoko, Ondo State, has claimed multiple lives after a Dangote Cement truck reportedly lost control and rammed into pedestrians, roadside shops, and structures along the Owo–Akungba–Ikare Expressway, near the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba (AAUA).
Eyewitnesses described the incident as horrifying, saying the truck, which was allegedly overloaded, breached barricades and plowed through a busy stretch of the town before coming to a stop amid chaos and destruction. Several victims, including students, local traders, and a pregnant woman, were said to be among those killed or injured. Rescue operations continued late into the evening as locals and emergency responders struggled to recover bodies trapped under debris.
The tragedy has thrown the university community and residents into mourning, with many questioning why similar accidents continue to occur despite previous interventions. The Akungba community has a history of road safety protests, during which locals installed barricades to limit heavy-duty vehicle access after earlier crashes in the same area.
Community leaders and activists are now demanding accountability and urgent action from both state and federal authorities. They are calling for stricter vehicle licensing and inspection systems, independent tracking and blacklisting of unsafe trucks, and improved enforcement of haulage regulations. Others have urged the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and state transport agencies to implement real-time monitoring systems and community-based surveillance initiatives to prevent future tragedies.
Transportation experts argue that the recurring crashes point to systemic failures in Nigeria’s road safety ecosystem, including poor road design, overloaded vehicles, and weak regulatory oversight. They warn that unless long-term structural reforms are implemented, communities along Nigeria’s major highways will remain at risk.
As Akungba grieves, families of victims are demanding justice, compensation, and concrete policy action to ensure that the lives lost do not become another statistic in the country’s growing record of preventable road tragedies.