Tragedy struck on Friday night at Alapoka, along the Papalanto–Ilaro Road in Yewa South Local Government Area of Ogun State, when a Dangote Cement truck reportedly lost control and rammed into a tricycle, killing all five occupants on the spot.
According to PUNCH Online, it was gathered on Saturday that the incident occurred around 8:30 p.m., according to the spokesperson of the Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency (TRACE), Mr Babatunde Akinbiyi.
Akinbiyi explained that preliminary investigations showed the Dangote truck, with registration number GRZ 767 XA, suffered brake failure before it crushed the unregistered tricycle conveying the victims.
“A fatal road traffic accident occurred at Alapoka Village along Papalanto–Ilaro Road on Friday around 8:25 p.m. The crash involved a Dangote truck and a tricycle carrying five passengers. Sadly, all five died instantly,” Akinbiyi confirmed.
He added that an eyewitness told officials the truck driver was unaware of the collision until the heavy vehicle’s tyres rolled over the tricycle and its passengers.
Following the incident, the Acting TRACE Head, Adedayo Omonayajo, and the Ilaro Divisional TRACE Commander, Salako Idowu, reportedly led a rescue team to the site. However, their efforts were met with hostility from irate residents angered by the recurring fatal accidents involving heavy-duty trucks.
“The rescue team was almost attacked by angry residents, but the prompt intervention of Amotekun operatives helped restore calm,” Akinbiyi stated.
He disclosed that the bodies of the deceased were later evacuated and deposited in a nearby morgue by officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).
This latest tragedy adds to a growing list of fatal crashes involving Dangote trucks in recent months.
In November 2024, a similar brake failure involving a Dangote vehicle resulted in multiple crashes in Lagos and Ogun states, leaving four people dead and seven injured.
Likewise, earlier this year, reality TV star Phyna called out the Dangote Group after one of its trucks allegedly crushed her sister in a fatal accident.
