15 persons have reportedly been killed in a ghastly accident involving a trailer and a commercial bus in Okpella, Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State.

We learnt that the tragic incident occurred on Monday evening, after the trailer had a brake failure and crashed into the Toyota bus.

The articulated vehicle was said to be coming from Lokoja-Okene road before ramming into the commercial bus that was full of passengers.

An eyewitness who confirmed the incident said the corpses of the dead were taken to the mortuary, while the injured were taken to the hospital for medical attention.

Also confirming the tragic incident, the Etsako East Local Chairman, Benedicta Attoh, in a statement through her Press Secretary, Ben Atu, commiserated with the families of the victims as well as the people of Okpella.

She also sympathised with the deceased’s family and prayed for a quick recovery for the injured.

The statement reads: “It is with a deep sense of sorrow that I commiserate with the families of those that lost their lives in a fatal motor accident along the Ewo Market Road in Okpella on Monday, September 25th, 2023.

“Indeed, their deaths have caused great sorrow for their families. I wish to let the families of the victims know that our thoughts and prayers are with them in this moment of grief. It is not the will of God that we die before our time, but when something like this happens, who can question God.

“On behalf of Etsako East Local Government Council, I extend our heartfelt condolences to the families of our departed brothers and sisters.

“Their untimely death has undoubtedly caused great pain to their families and I pray that such tragedy will never occur again in Jesus name, Amen.

“May God grant the families and loved ones the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss and may their souls rest in peace, amen”