The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Badagry, Nigeria, has returned over 692,000 naira (approximately $900) in recovered cash and personal belongings to families of victims involved in a fatal collision earlier this month. The July 6 crash, which occurred when a speeding commercial bus collided with a stationary truck on the Badagry Expressway, claimed eight lives and left 13 others critically injured.
According to Badagry FRSC Unit Commander William Manga, the bus, carrying 18 passengers from Mile 2 in Lagos, veered out of control while overtaking near the Atura axis. Six victims died instantly, while two succumbed en route to Badagry General Hospital, where the injured received emergency care. FRSC personnel swiftly transported victims and secured belongings from the scene, later verifying and releasing funds and mobile phones to relatives during a formal handover on Monday.
“Our teams prioritized both rescue operations and safeguarding victims’ possessions,” Manga stated, attributing the crash to excessive speed and reckless driving. While eight bodies were placed in the hospital morgue, families of four victims had earlier retrieved smaller sums—40,000 naira ($52) and 5,000 naira ($6.50)—from recovered items.
Tsoho Babangida, representing four affected families, thanked officials for their transparency, while Haruna Sanni, chairman of Badagry’s Arewa Community, identified the victims as traders traveling to Seme Border to purchase produce. “These were hardworking individuals sourcing goods for their businesses,” Sanni noted, praising the FRSC’s efforts to return personal effects.
The incident underscores persistent road safety challenges in Nigeria, where accidents caused by speeding and poor driving habits remain frequent. The FRSC’s prompt response highlights its role in crisis management, though the tragedy has left families and local communities mourning. As investigations continue, authorities urge stricter adherence to traffic regulations to prevent similar collisions on one of the region’s busiest thoroughfares.
