Brake Failure Claims Nine Lives in Akungba-Akoko, Including Pregnant Woman and Child

Tragedy struck on Wednesday night in the Akungba-Akoko community of Ondo State when a cement-laden truck lost control, killing nine people, including a pregnant woman, her child and several traders.

The deadly crash happened around 8 p.m., only a few metres from the main gate of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA) and the Holy Trinity Church. The truck, allegedly owned by Dangote Cement and en route from Obajana in Kogi State, was said to have suffered brake failure before ploughing into roadside traders and passersby in the crowded area.

Witnesses described the accident as devastating, saying the vehicle crushed everything in its path before coming to a stop. Shocked residents, who quickly gathered at the scene, blamed the tragedy on the earlier removal of a barricade that once prevented heavy-duty trucks from using the route.

According to some locals, the barricade had been turned into a tool for extortion by certain youths in the community. One source alleged that truck drivers were forced to pay as much as ₦10,000 before being allowed to pass, adding that the authorities ignored repeated warnings. “Those boys were collecting money from drivers while the government did nothing” he said.

The incident has reopened painful memories of past accidents in the same area, which has long been notorious for fatal crashes involving articulated trucks descending the steep slope near the university.

Confirming the tragedy, the Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Ondo State, Ezekiel Ibitoye, said eight people died on the spot. “The deceased include five men, two women, and one child. The truck rammed into a barricade in front of Adekunle Ajasin University and lost control, leading to the crash” he said.

Emergency teams and residents worked late into the night to recover bodies and clear the wreckage.

Authorities have yet to issue an official statement but the community is calling for a lasting solution to prevent further loss of lives on the Akungba-Akoko road, a route that has become a recurring death trap.