Tragedy in Benue as Dangote truck crushes 3 to death on Gboko–Aliade road

Tragedy struck in Benue State on Friday when a Dangote truck ran over a motorcycle, killing three people on the spot at Luga, a suburb along the Gboko–Aliade Road.

The victims, identified as two biological brothers and a lady, were riding on a Bajaj motorcycle when the fatal accident occurred.

According to eyewitnesses, two Dangote trucks were reportedly driving side by side at high speed on the narrow road when one of them, in an attempt to overtake, lost control and rammed into the motorcycle from behind. The impact killed all three occupants instantly.

All three were evacuated to the mortuary at Agidi, another suburb nearby while the two Dangote trucks were taken to the police station in Gboko.

When contacted the chairman of the Gboko branch of Dantrans, the transport wing of Dangote Industries Limited (DIL), Adamu Alfa, confirmed the accident and described it as ‘sad’.

He said though the accident happened in Gboko, the particular trucks involved are from the Dangote Cement plant at Ibese and not the Gboko plant.

Alfa said that the Dangote group now hold a weekly sensitisation and orientation sessions for the drivers in their employ on safety measures and conduct while on the road.

An eyewitnesses identified the victims as Orgem Ugondo and Aondozungwe Ugondo of Mbatan kindred in Mbayion, Gboko local government council.

The lady whom eyewitnesses said was given a lift by the brothers while on their way home was yet to be identified as at the time of this report.