Tension gripped residents of Gboko, Benue State, on Friday, October 25, 2025, after a Dangote truck reportedly crushed three persons — two brothers and a woman — to death in a ghastly accident along the Gboko–Aliade highway. The fatal crash occurred at Luga, a suburb of Gboko, leaving the community in deep shock.
Eyewitnesses recounted that the victims — identified as Orgem Ugondo and Aondozungwe Ugondo, both of Mbatan kindred in Mbayion, Gboko Local Government Area — were riding a Bajaj motorcycle when the tragedy struck. A female passenger, whose identity was yet to be confirmed at press time, was said to have been given a lift by the brothers shortly before their lives were cut short.
According to accounts from locals, two Dangote trucks were reportedly speeding side-by-side on the narrow stretch of the Gboko–Aliade road when one of the vehicles lost control and rammed into the motorcycle from behind. All three victims died instantly. The accident caused a temporary gridlock as sympathizers and motorists gathered at the scene.
Following the crash, the remains of the deceased were evacuated to the Agidi mortuary, while the two trucks involved were impounded and taken to the Gboko Police Division for investigation. The accident has since sparked outrage among residents who are demanding stricter monitoring of Dangote’s heavy-duty trucks, often accused of reckless driving and disregard for local traffic rules.
When contacted, Adamu Alfa, chairman of the Gboko branch of Dantrans, the transport wing of Dangote Industries Limited (DIL), confirmed the incident and described it as “a sad and regrettable event.” He clarified that the trucks involved were from the company’s Ibese plant in Ogun State, not the Gboko factory. Alfa added that the company holds weekly sensitization sessions for its drivers on road safety and responsible conduct.
This latest tragedy adds to a growing list of fatal road crashes linked to Dangote trucks across Nigeria, with several advocacy groups urging the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and the Ministry of Transport to impose stricter compliance measures on corporate fleet operators. According to FRSC data, heavy-duty trucks account for nearly 15% of road fatalities recorded nationwide in 2024 — a figure many believe will rise unless urgent interventions are made.
As investigations continue, families of the victims are calling for justice and adequate compensation. Residents have also appealed to the Benue State Government to install speed breakers and traffic warning signs along the Gboko–Aliade route, describing it as “a death trap for motorists and cyclists alike.”
