By Our Correspondent

National News – Three members of the Medical and Health Workers’ Union of Nigeria lost their lives in a fatal lone accident on Saturday in Kwara State while returning from a Workers’ Day celebration in Ilorin.

The crash occurred around 3pm along the Oke-Onigbin–Omu-Aran highway, involving a commercial Mazda bus marked ARP627KY.

Seven occupants were in the vehicle, including three men and four women, when the tragedy struck, leaving three female health workers dead on the spot.

The Federal Road Safety Corps confirmed the incident through its Kwara Sector Commander, Kabir Kazeem, who attributed the crash to excessive speeding and poor vehicle condition.

According to him, a tyre burst at high speed caused the driver to lose control, leading to the deadly accident.

FRSC rescue teams responded swiftly, evacuating the injured victims and transporting the deceased to a hospital in Omu-Aran for further handling.

Authorities explained that the victims were active health personnel who had participated in the national Workers’ Day event before embarking on their return journey.

The Chairman of Ekiti Local Government Area, Awelewa Gabriel, described the loss as devastating, noting that the deceased were dedicated professionals committed to community healthcare service.

He assured that support would be provided to the bereaved families and injured survivors.

Also reacting, the Executive Secretary of the Kwara State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Prof. Nusirat Elelu, expressed deep sorrow, stating that the victims played vital roles in ongoing polio immunisation campaigns.

She added that their sudden deaths represent a major setback to public health efforts in the state.

Road safety officials have urged motorists to avoid speeding, conduct routine vehicle checks, and prioritise passenger safety to prevent avoidable accidents on Nigerian highways.