Sowo Village exploded in anguish on Wednesday, July 24, 2025, after a speeding Toyota Corolla mowed down four pupils of Iddo Primary School, Kobape, along the Abeokuta–Sagamu Expressway. The children—aged between 8 and 11—had just closed from school and were walking home when their lives were abruptly ended in front of their peers and horrified passersby.
The vehicle, a Toyota Corolla with registration number KSF 579 DM, veered off the road around 3:00 p.m., lost control, and plowed into the children on the walkway, killing all four on the spot. Residents say the driver, who was alone in the vehicle, appeared to have been speeding and failed to notice the pupils until it was too late. He was nearly lynched by an enraged crowd before being whisked away by the police and soldiers.
The lifeless bodies were taken to the General Hospital in Ijaiye, Abeokuta, for formal confirmation of death. Emergency responders, including personnel from the Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps (TRACE), were quickly deployed. TRACE spokesperson Babatunde Akinbiyi confirmed the fatalities and the vehicle’s details, noting that the children’s families have taken custody of the bodies for burial.
Anger quickly boiled into action as residents and youths from the community stormed the expressway in protest, creating hours-long gridlock. Witnesses described chaotic scenes—burning debris, chants of “Justice for the children,” and calls for speed bumps, pedestrian bridges, and stricter enforcement of traffic laws near school zones.
This fatal crash marks the second deadly incident in 48 hours on the same road. On Monday, July 22, a truck reportedly lost control at the Siun Junction, killing a motorcyclist and his passenger on impact. Four vehicles were involved, including a Mazda bus and another truck, raising serious questions about enforcement of speed regulations and the overall safety of the highway corridor.
Grief-stricken parents and school officials say they had repeatedly requested for pedestrian signage and road safety measures near Iddo Primary School. “We begged for zebra crossings and speed bumps, but nothing was done,” said one teacher, who asked to remain anonymous. “Now, our pupils are being buried instead of preparing for next term.”
As the community mourns, civil society groups are now calling on the Ogun State Government and the Federal Road Safety Corps to audit the entire Abeokuta–Sagamu Expressway, enforce mandatory speed limits, and investigate the driver for manslaughter. For the families of the deceased, justice won’t bring their children back—but accountability might prevent another set of tiny uniforms from being soaked in blood.
