October 23, 2025
By Tobi Akinnubi
A tragic accident occurred on Wednesday evening in Akungba-Akoko, Akoko South-West Local Government Area of Ondo State, leaving several people dead and others injured.
The incident happened around 7 p.m. near the main gate of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), when a truck loaded with bags of cement reportedly lost control and rammed into shops and passers-by along the busy expressway.
Eyewitnesses said the truck, which was descending the hilly section of the Owo–Ikare road, suffered a brake failure before it veered off the road and crushed people in its path. Some victims were trapped under the wreckage before emergency responders arrived.
Confirming the incident, the Ondo State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Dr. Samuel Ibitoye, said eight people were confirmed dead, five adult males, two adult females, and one male child, while several others sustained varying degrees of injuries.
He said the bodies of the deceased had been deposited at a morgue in the university community, while the injured were taken to nearby hospitals for treatment.
Ibitoye attributed the crash to mechanical failure, urging motorists, especially truck drivers, to ensure their vehicles are roadworthy before embarking on any trip.
The tragic event has sparked renewed calls from residents and students for stricter enforcement of restrictions on heavy-duty vehicles passing through the university community.
This is not the first time such an incident has occurred in Akungba-Akoko, where previous accidents involving articulated trucks have claimed many lives near the AAUA main gate.
