Two brothers have died after a tipper truck rammed into motorcycles and several vehicles in Akure, the Ondo State capital, causing panic and tension in the area.
The fatal crash occurred along Pa Reuben Fasoranti Road, in front of the Vehicle Inspection Office (VIO), where officials were reportedly conducting routine vehicle checks when the truck lost control and crashed into vehicles trapped in traffic.
Eyewitnesses said the victims, who were riding on a motorcycle, were killed instantly after the truck struck them following an initial collision with other stationary vehicles.
A commercial driver who narrowly escaped the incident described the scene as chaotic, saying he had to run for safety as the truck moved uncontrollably through traffic.
“I parked by the roadside. People started shouting. The truck was hitting vehicles. I had to run,” he said.
The crash sparked tension in the area, with some angry youths gathering at the scene and blaming the persistent traffic congestion around the VIO office for exposing road users to danger.
Security operatives from the Ijapo Police Division were later deployed to the scene to restore order and prevent an attack on the VIO office.
The police confirmed that the tipper truck involved was not registered. They also said a car and a motorcycle were part of the crash.
Ondo State Police spokesperson, Abayomi Jimoh, said the motorcycle rider and passenger were rushed to hospital but were confirmed dead on arrival.
He added that the vehicles involved in the crash had been removed for further investigation.
The incident has once again raised concerns over road safety and heavy-duty vehicle regulation in urban areas of the state, especially along busy inspection corridors.
