15 Dead After Fatal Highway Crash Near Muslim Cemetery in Kwara State

ILORIN, NIGERIA — Tragedy struck in the early hours of Monday morning, July 6, 2026 after an articulated cargo vehicle veered out of control and overturned on the outskirts of Ilorin, killing 15 passengers on the spot and leaving 17 others severely injured.

The catastrophic lone-vehicle crash occurred at approximately 2:32 AM near the Muslim Cemetery area along the Ogbomoso–Oko Olowo corridor of the Ilorin-Jebba Expressway.

The incident involved a lone DAF XF commercial truck with registration number GWL 274 XC, driven by an individual identified as Nasiru Muhammed.

According to eyewitnesses at the scene and preliminary investigations by road safety officials, the driver reportedly succumbed to severe fatigue and fell asleep at the wheel. This caused the heavily loaded vehicle to skid violently off the asphalt and flip completely over on its side.

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) confirmed that a total of 48 individuals—all of whom were male occupants—were on board the truck at the time of the impact.

The crash's impact was devastating, resulting in 15 male occupants confirmed dead at the scene. Additionally, 17 passengers suffered severe, varying degrees of trauma, such as compound fractures, joint dislocations, and deep contusions. Fortunately, 16 other occupants managed to escape the mangled wreckage entirely unscathed.

Joint emergency teams from the RS8.15 Oloru Unit Command and the RS8.1 Kwara Command (Oko Olowo Outpost) arrived rapidly to initiate a complex rescue operation. Paramedics quickly evacuated the 17 injured victims to the Arewa Medical Centre and Baki Hospital for urgent medical stabilization.

Meanwhile, the bodies of the 15 victims who died were formally handed over to their respective families and representatives through the Sarkin Hausawa of Oko Olowo in the Moro Local Government Area of Kwara State.

Confirming the incident, the Kwara State Sector Commander of the FRSC, Kabiru Babatunde Kazeem, noted that rescue workers remained active on the tarmac well into the day. Teams continued searching the wreckage out of concern that more victims could be trapped or buried beneath the vehicle's heavy, overturned cargo.

In light of the tragedy, Commander Kazeem strongly urged long-distance commercial motorists to prioritize safety by explicitly avoiding night travel, refusing mixed cargo-and-passenger loading, and ensuring they take adequate rest breaks to actively combat driver fatigue.