Two Niger Delta University students died in a head-on crash between a truck and tricycle.
The Yenagoa–Amassoma Road tragedy has sparked calls for stricter traffic enforcement and safety measures.
Two students of Niger Delta University (NDU), Amassoma, lost their lives on Wednesday in a fatal head-on collision between a truck and a commercial tricycle along the Yenagoa–Amassoma Road in Bayelsa State. Several other passengers in the tricycle sustained critical injuries.
Eyewitnesses blamed the tragedy on reckless driving and the absence of road signs, noting that the crash occurred on a sharp bend. According to residents, the truck was speeding when it failed to navigate the curve, veered off its lane, and rammed into the tricycle, crushing it completely.
A trader, Godspower Okilo, who witnessed the incident, said the tricycle operator had no chance to avoid the oncoming vehicle due to the truck’s high speed. He added that locals have long complained about dangerous driving habits of truck drivers on the route without any significant action taken.
The impact of the collision left the tricycle mangled beyond recognition. Bystanders and Good Samaritans quickly pulled survivors from the wreckage and rushed them to the Federal Medical Centre in Yenagoa, while the deceased were taken to a nearby morgue.
Residents are urging the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and the Bayelsa State Police Command to enforce speed limits, install speed breakers, and conduct regular checks on heavy-duty vehicles.
Mrs. Ebike Ekain, another local, warned that without immediate intervention, similar tragedies would continue. The Yenagoa–Amassoma Road has a high accident rate, partly due to multiple sharp bends created during reconstruction between Etegwe Roundabout and Tombia Community, which many drivers approach at dangerous speeds.
Police spokesperson DSP Musa Muhammad confirmed the incident, stating that an investigation is underway to determine its exact cause.
