Tension gripped Benue State on Sunday evening following a horrific crash involving a Dangote cement truck and a Toyota Sienna van near the NYSC Orientation Camp along the Wannune-Gboko Road in Tarka LGA. Eyewitnesses reported that the heavily loaded truck lost control and veered directly into the path of the oncoming Sienna, resulting in a devastating head-on collision.
The impact was catastrophic. The Sienna, packed with passengers, stood no chance against the weight and force of the cement truck. Bystanders described a harrowing scene, with screams piercing the air and twisted metal crushing several victims inside the vehicle. The smaller van was mangled beyond recognition.
In a heart-wrenching account, one of the first responders shared how he attempted to rescue a baby pinned under a seat. “Her tiny legs were stuck… she was already gone,” he said, his voice breaking. The responder described how he cradled the child’s lifeless body with tears in his eyes, calling the experience one of the most traumatic of his life.
The Sienna driver miraculously survived with only minor injuries, but passengers weren’t as fortunate. Two men in the front seat were trapped, with one still gasping for breath as rescuers struggled to free him. A woman seated in the middle row died on the spot, crushed by the force of the truck’s impact on the right side of the vehicle.
Passengers in the rear managed to escape with relatively minor injuries, thanks to the quick actions of good Samaritans who broke the windows and helped them out. Rescue operations became more complicated as it became evident that the sheer size of the truck made it nearly impossible to reach those still pinned beneath.
As the crowd swelled and tension mounted, another truck was reportedly called in to help lift the Dangote vehicle and recover trapped victims. One witness who had to leave the scene early said, “When I left, the two men and the woman were still trapped. I couldn’t sleep that night.”
The remains of some victims were later transported to St. Christopher Hospital in Wannune. As of press time, authorities had yet to release an official statement or confirm the number of casualties. The incident has sparked fresh concerns about the safety of Nigeria’s highways and the role of overloaded trucks in fatal accidents.
