Six killed, 12 injured as Benue Links bus collides with truck in Benue

Six passengers have lost their lives in a tragic road accident involving an 18-seater Benue Links bus and a truck allegedly belonging to CHEC Construction Company along the Makurdi–Otukpo highway in Benue State.

The crash occurred on Friday at about 4 p.m. near the moribund Benue Burnt Bricks factory, leaving 12 other passengers with varying degrees of injuries.

Eyewitnesses said the bus was conveying passengers from Makurdi to Otukpo and had almost reached its destination when the accident happened less than three kilometres from Otukpo town.

Five passengers reportedly died instantly at the scene, while another victim later died at the Federal University of Health Sciences Teaching Hospital, Otukpo, where the injured were rushed for treatment.

According to an eyewitness, the accident occurred on a dusty section of the road undergoing construction, which affected visibility.

“The passengers were already close to Otukpo town when the truck ran into the bus. Because of the dust from the road construction, visibility was poor and the truck driver likely didn’t see the approaching bus,” the eyewitness said.

Among the 12 surviving passengers is a seven-month-old infant, who sustained injuries along with other victims.

A medical source at the hospital confirmed that the injured passengers were promptly admitted and are currently receiving treatment.

“The patients are under the care of our medical team and are responding positively to treatment,” the source said.

The Public Relations Officer of Benue Links, Johnson Ehi, confirmed the incident and stated that the transport company has taken responsibility for the medical bills of the injured passengers.

“The casualty figure is six — five males and one female. The remaining 12 passengers are responding to treatment, and we have taken over their medical bills at the Federal University of Health Sciences Teaching Hospital, Otukpo,” he said.

Efforts to reach the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Udeme Edet, for comments were unsuccessful at the time of filing this report.