11 Killed, Seven Injured in Fatal Head-On Collision on Benin-Agbor Road

By Tgnews Reporter

Tragedy struck on the busy Benin-Agbor Road in Edo State over the weekend when a high-speed overtaking manoeuvre by a commercial bus driver led to a devastating head-on collision, claiming the lives of 11 people and leaving seven others with varying degrees of injuries.

The accident occurred on Saturday, January 17, 2026, at Okhuahe community in Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area, a notorious stretch of the highway linking Benin City to Agbor and beyond.

According to eyewitness accounts, the driver of an 18-seater commercial bus heading towards Lagos attempted a dangerous overtaking of another vehicle. In the process, the bus veered into the path of an oncoming truck, resulting in a violent head-on crash.

The Edo State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Cyril Mathew, confirmed the incident to journalists in Benin City. He stated that all 11 victims died instantly at the scene.

“The crash involved a truck and an 18-seater bus,” Mathew said. “The bus attempted to overtake another vehicle and, in the process, had a head-on collision with the oncoming vehicle, killing 11 persons on the spot.”

He added that the bodies of the deceased were recovered and deposited at a morgue, while the injured survivors were rushed to nearby hospitals for urgent medical treatment.

The FRSC has yet to release the identities of the victims or the drivers involved, pending further investigation and notification of next of kin.

This latest incident has once again highlighted the persistent dangers on Nigeria’s highways, where reckless overtaking, speeding, and driver fatigue remain leading causes of fatal crashes. The Benin-Agbor Road, a major artery for commercial and passenger transport, has seen several similar accidents in recent years.

Road safety advocates and the FRSC have repeatedly called for stricter enforcement of traffic rules, improved driver education, and better vehicle maintenance to curb the rising toll of road crashes in the country.

Authorities have urged motorists to exercise caution, avoid risky manoeuvres, and adhere to speed limits, especially on high-traffic corridors like the Benin-Agbor highway.

Investigations into the cause of the crash are ongoing, with the FRSC promising to provide updates as more details emerge.