28 passengers burnt to death in Ondo auto crash

At least 28 passengers were burnt to death in an auto crash at Onipetesi area along Ore/ Lagos highway of Odigbo local government area of Ondo State.

The tragic accident involving two commercial buses occurred on Saturday night, February 1, 2025.

Confirming the incident, the Ondo State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Dr. Samuel Ibitoye, said the accident occurred when the two commercial buses had a head on collision and burst into flames

The FRSC boss who said preliminary investigation showed one of the vehicles drove against traffic. 

Ibitoye urged drivers to exercise caution, ensure proper vehicle maintenance, and avoid reckless driving.

“No fewer than 28 people were burnt beyond recognition on Saturday evening in a fatal accident caused by head-on collision of two vehicles in Mile 49, on the Ore-Lagos expressway,” he said.

“The accident was caused by excessive speeding and traffic violation which led to a head-on collision by the two vehicles while 28 passengers out of 30 passengers lost their lives tragically.

“It’s unfortunate that 28 lives were burnt beyond recognition in the fatal accident caused by excessive speeding and traffic violations. 

“The contract between drivers and passengers is to take them safely to their destinations after they have paid not to drive them to their graves.”

He added that drivers must always exercise patience on the highway, saying that the contract between the drivers and passengers was to deliver them to their destination safely and not to their graves. 

Ibitoye said that passengers too must partake in road safety by cautioning drivers who always throw caution into the air by speeding and disobeying traffic rules adding that passengers can as well report them FRSC personnel on highway.

“This is why everyone must participate in road safety, the passengers too have a role to play by cautioning drivers or reporting them to FRSC personnel on the highway,” he added.

“We appeal to our drivers to always exercise patience on the highway in order to reduce crashes to safe lives and property.”