Eyewitness Shares What Really Happened in Auchi Accident Involving Dangote Truck
- Eyewitness and police reports have cleared a Dangote Cement truck of direct blame in the Auchi accident that claimed three lives
- Activist VeryDarkMan, however, accused the company of abandoning a 22-year-old victim who has spent nearly a year in hospital with bills exceeding five million naira
- The development follows growing public protests in Auchi over repeated truck crashes and calls for Dangote to take responsibility
Eyewitness accounts have disputed reports linking a Dangote Cement truck to the fatal accident that occurred along the Auchi-Okpella-Okene highway in Edo State.
The crash, which took place near Omega Fire Ministry in Auchi, claimed several lives and reignited public outrage over truck-related tragedies in the area.
Source: Getty Images
Eyewitness absolves Dangote truck
A witness at the scene, Audu Omale, explained that a third-party cement truck was the actual cause of the accident, reported the Vanguard.
He said the vehicle lost control on a slope due to suspected brake failure, veered off course and rammed into a car and a motorcycle before colliding with the side of the Dangote CNG truck.
The impact caused the Dangote vehicle to catch fire, though its driver managed to escape unharmed to avoid a mob attack.
“Consequently, three persons from the vehicle hit by the third-party truck lost their lives while two sustained injuries and were rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment,” Omale recounted.
Edo police confirm sequence of event
The Edo State Police Command confirmed the sequence of events. Command spokesman CSP Moses Yamu stated that the crash involved three vehicles: a Dangote truck, another yet-to-be-identified truck and a GLK Mercedes Benz.
He confirmed that the three occupants of the GLK were evacuated to hospital but were later pronounced dead.
“I can confirm to you that three vehicles were involved in an accident in Auchi at midday. Two were trucks, including one belonging to Dangote Cement, and the third was a GLK Benz. The Dangote truck caught fire, which was eventually put under control,” Yamu said, noting that investigations remain ongoing.
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VDM drags Dangote over road accident
The incident has unfolded against the backdrop of mounting criticism of the Dangote Group’s haulage operations. Activist Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), recently accused the company of neglecting victims of truck accidents in Auchi.
In a viral video, he showcased a 22-year-old woman who has allegedly spent 11 months at Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital after being crushed by a Dangote truck.
Source: Instagram
According to him, her medical bills have exceeded five million naira without support from the company.
The activist’s comments came days after Big Brother Naija winner Phyna Otabor accused Dangote of abandoning her sister, Ruth, also injured by a truck in Auchi. Following her outcry, the company pledged to cover all of Ruth’s medical expenses.
VDM has now joined protests in Auchi, insisting Dangote must assume responsibility for accident victims and threatening that trucks belonging to the conglomerate would be prevented from operating in the area until the matter is addressed.
As of press time, Dangote Group has not issued a response to the latest claims.
Phyna replies Dangote Group's promise
Meanwhile, former Big Brother Naija housemate Phyna Otabor reacted to the Dangote Group's official statement following their visit to her sister.
The singer had cried out after a Dangote truck rammed into her sister, Ruth, leading to the amputation of one of her legs.
In response to the Group's statement, Phyna went online to angrily reply, igniting reactions across social media.
Source: Legit.ng
