•Our trucks not involved, Dangote Group clarifies
•Truck accident unfortunate, avoidable, says Aiyedatiwa
A tragic accident that claimed eight lives, including a pregnant woman, in Akungba-Akoko, Ondo State, has sparked controversy over the circumstances leading to the incident.
The accident occurred on Wednesday in the university community located in Akoko South-West Local Council, when a cement-laden truck reportedly suffered brake failure and rammed into pedestrians in a densely populated area.
Among the victims were a pregnant woman, a mother and her child, and a 200-level student of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA). Several others sustained injuries.
The incident has reignited concerns about recurring accidents in the area, particularly those involving articulated vehicles navigating the steep Okerigbo slope.
Angry sympathisers at the accident scene blamed the tragedy on the removal of a barricade previously installed to prevent heavy-duty vehicles from accessing the community.
According to sources, some youths in the community had allegedly been extorting N10,000 from truck drivers at the barricade before allowing them passage, while the government reportedly ignored the situation.
The students’ union accused indigenes of involvement in removing the barricade, which the state government had mounted to prevent such accidents.
Comrade Salami Akeem, President of the AAUA Student Union, said members of the community had undermined students’ vigilance in blocking trucks.
“On the night of Saturday, October 18, one of the palace boys was caught attempting to facilitate unauthorised passage and was promptly handed over to the police for investigation,” he stated.
He presented voice recordings and visual evidence allegedly identifying individuals affiliated with the palace involved in an extortion scheme, rejecting what he described as the palace’s “baseless claims.”
The Alale of Akungba-Akoko had recently directed residents and road users to stay away from the barricade opening, ordering that trucks must not bypass it until the ongoing Akungba–Ikare road dualisation is completed.
The traditional ruler noted that only construction companies and government officials working on the dualisation project may be granted passage for project-related purposes.
Meanwhile, Dangote Group has clarified that the truck involved in the accident is not part of its fleet. The company said the vehicle, with registration number JJJ 365 XB, is owned and operated by an independent logistics company and was transporting crushed stones in reused sacks bearing various brand names, not Dangote products.
“Dangote Industries maintains a strict policy on fleet management and vehicle identification, ensuring that all its trucks are properly branded, tracked, and operated by trained personnel under rigorous safety and compliance standards,” the statement read.
The company urged the public and media to verify information before attributing ownership to Dangote Group, advising media organisations to refrain from using images of Dangote-branded trucks in connection with unrelated incidents.
“The company deeply sympathises with all those affected by the incident,” the statement added, while reaffirming its commitment to road safety and regulatory compliance.
Also, Governor of Ondo State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has described the Wednesday horrific accident in the university community of Akungba-Akoko, Akoko South-West Local Council Area of Ondo State, as unfortunate and avoidable.
Aiyedatiwa, who visited the scene of the accident and the community to commiserate with the families of the victims, assured that strict compliance will be enforced on the route.
The governor, who was represented by his deputy, Olayide Adelami, visited the palace of the Alale of Akungba Akoko, Oba Isiaka Oseni, to condole him and the community over the unfortunate incident.
He also met with the students of the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, as well as some locals. He said: “We received the unfortunate news with rude shock, and as a government, we are deeply saddened. Kabiyesi, we commiserate with you and the entire people of Akungba Akoko. We feel your pain.”
While sympathising with the crowd of mourners, he stated that the incident was preventable if motorists adhered to traffic regulations and the highway code.
The governor revealed that plans have been concluded to restore the barricade and other obstructions that were damaged by the long vehicle and ensure strict compliance with traffic instructions along the Ikare-Akungba highway.
