In the wake of a tragic road accident at the Udu Bridge, the Chairman of Udu Local Government Council, Hon. Vincent Oyibode, has called for stricter adherence to road safety regulations, particularly by operators of heavy-duty vehicles.
Describing the incident as deeply unfortunate, Oyibode extended his condolences to the families of those who lost their lives and assured the public of swift action to restore normalcy and ensure safer road conditions.
The fatal accident, which occurred earlier on Monday July 14 2025, reportedly involved a Julius Berger truck attempting to overtake a commercial tricycle (popularly known as Keke). In the process, the truck struck a stationary trailer under which a mechanic was working. The impact caused the trailer to topple, crushing three tricycles in motion, leading to multiple fatalities and injuries.
The crash caused severe gridlock on the busy Udu Bridge, leaving thousands of commuters—students, traders, and workers—stranded for hours. Eyewitnesses reported that some commuters resorted to trekking long distances due to the traffic lockdown, while emergency responders struggled to access the scene.
Chairman Oyibode, who visited the accident site personally, coordinated initial response efforts. The remains of the deceased mechanic were recovered and deposited in a mortuary, while arrangements were made to tow away the damaged vehicles to ease traffic flow.
‘Life is precious,’ Oyibode remarked at the scene. ‘I appeal to all road users to always drive with caution and a sense of responsibility. This tragedy was avoidable, and we must do everything possible to prevent such incidents in the future.’
Security and traffic management personnel from the Nigeria Police, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), and Divisional Officers from Ovwian/Aladja and Enerhen were deployed to manage the situation and maintain public order.
A survivor, a tricycle operator, narrated the terrifying moment of the crash and expressed gratitude for surviving the ordeal.
Although the full number of casualties is yet to be confirmed, rescue and recovery efforts continued as of press time.
The Udu Local Government Council reaffirmed its commitment to public safety and called on all drivers, especially operators of heavy-duty vehicles, to observe speed limits and traffic regulations, particularly on major transit routes such as the Udu Bridge.
