A tragic road accident unfolded on Wednesday evening in Akungba‑Akoko, Ondo State, near the main gate of Adekunle Ajasin University (AAUA), claiming multiple lives and sparking widespread grief and anger. A truck reportedly lost control, veered off the road, and rammed into roadside shops and pedestrians, leading to a horrifying scene of destruction and loss.

The devastating incident resulted in at least 10 fatalities, including a pregnant woman, a lady and her child, students, and traders. Eyewitnesses recounted the truck crashing through a barricade before impacting the shops, trapping several individuals beneath its wreckage. Preliminary investigations by the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) confirmed that the truck suffered brake failure, a factor contributing to the catastrophic outcome.

In the wake of the tragedy, a wave of outrage swept through Akungba-Akoko. On Thursday, students of AAUA and community residents took to the streets in protest, blocking major roads leading to the university. They demanded urgent government intervention to address the recurring carnage on the Akungba–Ikare–Akoko highway, which they described as a “death trap” plagued by potholes, reckless truck drivers hauling cement from nearby factories, and the absence of proper traffic controls. Protesters chanted slogans like “No More Trucks Through Akungba!” and “Justice for the Victims,”highlighting how the recent removal of a protective barricade at the university gate, allegedly for extortion purposes, had left the community vulnerable to such disasters.

Among their key demands were a permanent ban on heavy-duty vehicles plying the route, immediate road rehabilitation, and stricter enforcement against over-loading and brake-maintenance violations. The Ondo State Police Command, led by Commissioner Adebowale Lawal, visited the area to engage with demonstrators, assuring them of collaborative efforts with other agencies to restore order and prevent recurrences, while Deputy Governor Olayide Adelami made a compassionate on-site visit to commiserate with the bereaved families. allAfrica.com

According to a statement from the FRSC’s Ondo State Sector Commander, Samuel Ibitoye, the crash involved a cement-laden truck that collided with a barricade near AAUA’s main gate before losing control, resulting in five male fatalities, two females, including a pregnant woman and one child, with several others injured and receiving treatment at local hospitals. He emphasised that preliminary investigations pointed to brake failure as the primary cause, underscoring the need for routine vehicle inspections, especially for articulated trucks on this notorious highway. He also noted that the FRSC would intensify patrols and advocacy campaigns on road safety in the Akungba–Ikare axis to mitigate future risks.