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Black Thursday: 15 die in multiple accidents in Kwara

…As Imo police command commits to strict enforcement of third party vehicle insurance


Victor Duruamaku Owerri 

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) says 15 people have died in multiple motor accidents along Olooru/Oko-olowo Road in Ilorin, Kwara, on Wednesday.

 

Mr Muftau Irekeola, Kwara Sector Commander, FRSC, confirmed this to the News Ageny of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Ilorin.

 

Irekeola said that two commercial vehicles were involved in the accident which claimed 15 lives, while three people were uninjured.

 

“On January 22, at about 16:15 hours, we got a call that there was an accident along Olooru/Oko-olowo Road around 16:00 hours and immediately went to the scene.

 

“We got there at 16:25 hours and discovered that it was a multiple crash that involved two commercial vehicles; a J7 and Toyota, with registration numbers AYE218XC and TTN556XA respectively.

 

“A total number of 18 people were involved in the auto crash, in which 15 died on the spot and three others were uninjured,” Irekeola explained.

 

The sector commander said that investigations revealed that the accident was as a result of speeding and wrongful overtaking, which made the drivers hit an obstruction on the road.

 

He, however, said that the bodies recovered from the scene had been released to the families, while efforts are still ongoing to clear the obstruction.

.As Police command warns on strict enforcement of  Third -Party  Vehicle Insurance 

Meanwhile, Imo  state police  command is now set to  strictly enforce  third party  vehicle insurance in the state

According to the  state commissioner of police  Aboki  Danjuma, ”  this  is a bid to ensure the effective enforcement of the  third-party vehicle insurance in Imo State”

The  Command’s  spokes man, DSP, Henry Okoye in an official  statement issued in Owerri, said that the  Commissioner of Police, Aboki  Danjuma recently  held a crucial meeting with key stakeholders , at the Command’s headquarters in Owerri to this effect

He  explained  that the meeting centered on sensitizing stakeholders and raising public awareness about the importance of securing vehicle insurance, as mandated by Section 68 of the Insurance Act and Section 312 of the 1945 Motor Vehicle (Third-Party Insurance) Act.

The official statement  revealed  that the enforcement initiative is set to take effect on 1st February 2025.

It also  said that representatives from the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Imo State Transport Corporation, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), and the Imo State Internal Revenue Service (IRS) were present at the meeting during which the Commissioner of Police inaugurated an enforcement team, led by CSP Isa Kolo, to ensure compliance across the state.

The statement   said that the  Commissioner of  Police, Aboki Danjuma emphasized that vehicles without valid third-party insurance will be impounded until compliance is ensured.

In his reaction the statement  said, Hon  Samuel Udeh, Chairman of the NURTW, pledged the Union’s cooperation, assuring that its members would update their insurance documents promptly while  Mr. Collins Osuji, representing the NUJ Chairman, also assured journalists’ support in creating public awareness about the initiative.

The Imo State Police Command calls on all motorists to comply with the third-party insurance requirement and support efforts to improve safety on the roads.

 

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