YENAGOA, Nigeria (BN24) — Two suspected university students lost their lives on Wednesday in a fatal road accident involving a tipper truck and a commercial tricycle along the Tombia-Ammassoma road in Bayelsa State, renewing public concern over traffic safety on the notoriously dangerous highway.
According to eyewitnesses, the crash occurred near a sharp bend along the poorly marked and accident-prone stretch of the road. The tipper truck, reportedly descending a slope at high speed, lost control and rammed into the tricycle carrying multiple passengers. The impact of the collision left the tricycle completely mangled, with two occupants declared dead at the scene and several others critically injured.
Godspower Okolo, a trader who witnessed the crash, described the moment of impact as unavoidable and devastating. “The tricycle had no chance. The tipper came too fast down the hill. It was already too close. The damage was total,” he told Daily Trust. Okolo said nearby residents rushed to the scene to assist the injured and coordinated efforts to transport them to the Federal Medical Centre in Yenagoa. The bodies of the deceased were moved to a nearby morgue.
The accident has reignited calls from local residents for stricter traffic enforcement and better safety infrastructure along the Tombia-Ammassoma road, a key route frequently used by students and commercial vehicles. “If nothing is done, we’ll continue to count losses,” said Mrs. Ebike Ekain, a resident who urged authorities to take immediate action to prevent further tragedies.
Bayelsa State has witnessed a troubling rise in traffic accidents involving heavy-duty vehicles and commercial tricycles, particularly along the Tombia-Ammassoma corridor. According to residents, at least 15 similar accidents have been recorded on the road in the past 18 months.
Spokesperson for the Bayelsa State Police Command, DSP Musa Muhammad, confirmed the incident and said investigations are currently underway to determine the exact cause of the crash. The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has not yet issued a formal statement.
Community leaders and safety advocates continue to press for the installation of speed breakers, clearer road markings, increased patrols, and regular inspections of commercial vehicles, especially tippers, which are frequently cited in fatal accidents across the state.
The Tombia-Ammassoma road, which connects Yenagoa to the Niger Delta University campus, remains one of the busiest and deadliest roadways in Bayelsa, with many residents urging state and federal authorities to prioritize safety upgrades before more lives are lost.
Credit: Daily Trust
