12 Passengers burnt beyond recognition in ghastly express road accident

Tragedy struck on Saturday morning along the Benin-Auchi highway as 12 passengers were burnt to death in a fatal accident involving a Toyota Hiace bus and a truck.

Cyril Mathew, Edo Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), who confirmed the incident, said the crash occurred around 5 a.m. at Igueoviobo community, near an army checkpoint on the highway.

According to the FRSC official, the bus, which departed from Zuba in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and was heading to Benin, collided with an oncoming truck en route Auchi.

“The entire occupants of the bus were killed in the crash.

“The accident likely resulted from fatigue, as the driver may have dozed off, leading to the collision,” he said.

Following the impact, he said, the bus was engulfed in flames, making it impossible to save the victims.

Matthew noted, however, that the FRSC authorities were able to identify the deceased through the vehicle’s manifest and had since contacted their families.

He explained that the truck driver and his assistant, fondly called “Motor Boy” escaped unhurt.

The FRSC boss once again urged drivers to avoid fatigue while on long journeys, advising them to stop and rest whenever they feel tired to prevent similar tragedies. (NAN)

You lack the authority to remove or install your Speaker– Lagos House of Assembly told

Prince Tajudeen Olusi, Chairman of the Governance Advisory Council (GAC) in Lagos State, has addressed the ongoing controversy surrounding the Lagos State House of Assembly as regards the speakership position of the House.

Speaking publicly for the first time since the controversial removal of Mudashiru Obasa as Speaker and the election of Mojisola Meranda on January 13, 2025, the prominent APC leader revealed that while lawmakers hold influence, they do not have the absolute power to appoint or remove their leadership.

He also emphasised that neither the GAC nor the party were consulted in the decision-making process.

The dispute has led to both Obasa and Meranda now staking claims to the Speakership of the House of Assembly, further intensifying the political tension.

As the highest decision-making body within the APC, the GAC has held multiple meetings with the lawmakers involved in the crisis, seeking to resolve the matter amicably.

Speaking with newsmen, Olusi said, “Members of the GAC are not members of the Lagos State House of Assembly to allegedly be behind the removal of Obasa. It can’t be true.

“We read it also that morning. The lawmakers carried it out without consulting the party and those of us in the GAC. That is our position.

“We invited all of them and insisted that all of them are products of the party. They lodged their complaints and we listened to them.

“I blamed them for one thing and that is for not lodging the complaints earlier before the party. It is for the party to decide, they (lawmakers) have no absolute power to remove and install their leaders.

“Nobody can become a member of the House of Assembly unless sponsored by a political party and the sponsors are the inspectors.

“The problem is the speaker (Obasa) and his colleagues which had led to his removal. It is a disputer among them.

“Currently, there is a high powered committee of the party led by Chief Bisi Akande and members, including Aremo Olusegun Osoba, and former APC National Vice Chairman, South-west, Chief Pius Akinyelure and others,

“They are working and making efforts to resolve the matter. I know they are in consultation with the House of Assembly, Obasa and the other Speaker, Mrs Mojisola Lasbat Meranda.

“Those of us in the GAC and the Chairman of the Party, Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi are doing all within our power to assist the committee.”