AUCHI, Nigeria (BN24) — Three people were killed on Sunday in a fatal road crash involving two trucks — one belonging to Dangote Cement — and a Mercedes-Benz GLK near the Omega Fire Ministry church in Auchi, Edo State.
The accident occurred around midday in front of the church, shortly after a Sunday service. A viral video filmed by a church member captured the aftermath of the collision, showing bystanders attempting to rescue victims while a voice urged others to detain the truck driver. “We just closed from church. A serious accident just happened… A Dangote truck crushed about five vehicles,” the man is heard saying.
Edo State Police Command spokesperson Moses Yamu confirmed the incident, stating that all three occupants of the GLK Benz were taken to a hospital, where they were pronounced dead. He added that one of the trucks involved — the Dangote Cement vehicle — caught fire following the crash but the blaze was brought under control.
“I can confirm to you that three vehicles were involved in the Auchi accident: two trucks and a GLK Benz,” Yamu said. “The three victims in the Benz were evacuated to the hospital, where they were confirmed dead. The investigation is ongoing.”
The crash has sparked renewed concerns over road safety and driver regulation, particularly regarding heavy-duty trucks operating on Nigerian highways.
Reacting to the tragedy, Johnson Suleman, the Senior Pastor and General Overseer of Omega Fire Ministry, described the incident as “an avoidable death” and blamed the recklessness of untrained and overworked drivers for the accident.
“These boys who drive should be called to order,” Suleman said. “They are not trained, they are overworked, stressed, and some may even be under the influence of drugs. The management of the organisation these drivers work for must assess their drivers — these deaths are avoidable.”
While acknowledging the poor condition of some Nigerian roads, Suleman stressed that private companies must also take responsibility. “Giving your truck to untrained drivers — is that the government’s fault? Overworking them to meet targets has nothing to do with the government. Citizens must be responsible,” he said.
The accident has intensified scrutiny of commercial trucking operations in Nigeria, particularly those tied to large industrial firms. While no arrest has been officially confirmed, calls for stronger enforcement of driver licensing and company accountability are growing.
Credit: Punching.com
