Dangote Truck Strikes Again in Bayelsa: Community Cries Out for Justice

Dangote Truck Strikes Again in Bayelsa: Community Cries Out for Justice

Yet another Dangote truck incident has shaken the state late last night, reigniting anger and demands for accountability from residents. The crash, which occurred around 10 pm on the Epie Creek Bridge near Yenagoa, involved a fully loaded Dangote cement truck and several smaller vehicles, leaving multiple people injured and significant damage to both lives and property.

The truck, reportedly en route from Port Harcourt to the Dangote Cement plant in Ekeremor, lost control at a sharp curve approaching the bridge. Eyewitnesses say the driver appeared to be speeding, and heavy rainfall made the slick road surface almost impossible to navigate. As the truck veered off, it collided with a commercial bus and two motorcycles, throwing passengers into panic.

An eyewitness, Madam Adoki, who saw the aftermath, described the chaos: “We heard metal twisting, people screaming. The truck just couldn’t stop. The bus was crushed at the side, the motorcycles thrown aside like rag dolls.” Local emergency services were quickly alerted, and ambulances rushed the injured to Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital and a nearby clinic.

Among the injured are at least two critically wounded motorcyclists, one with suspected spinal injuries and the other with a fractured arm and multiple lacerations. The bus driver is reportedly in serious condition. While there were thankfully no deaths confirmed at the scene, residents fear fatalities may be uncovered later, given the severity of some injuries.

This isn’t the first time a Dangote truck has been involved in a serious crash in Bayelsa. Over the past few years, locals have repeatedly raised concerns about speeding heavy vehicles, poorly maintained brakes and tires, overloading, and the general safety of transit through critical roadways. The company, as well as regulatory bodies, have often been accused of lax enforcement of safety standards, and in many cases, overloading and unqualified drivers have been flagged.

This latest accident has reignited those concerns. Social media platforms have been flooded with calls for stricter regulation, better driver training, and enforcement of traffic laws. #JusticeForBayelsa trended on X (formerly Twitter), as residents shared photos of mangled vehicles and expressed frustration over what they see as ongoing corporate negligence.

Already, the Bayelsa State Government has announced an investigation into the crash. The Office of the State Commissioner for Transportation confirmed that they will be looking into vehicle load records, maintenance history of the truck, and whether the driver had valid licenses. Additionally, the state police have cordoned off the area, recovering the truck and towing damaged vehicles to a secure compound.

Dangote Group has released a short statement expressing condolences to the victims and assuring that they are cooperating with state authorities. They noted that safety is a “core value” for the company and that they will carry out their own internal review of the incident. However, many locals are skeptical, citing past incidents where promised safety reforms never materialized.

What Must Be Done

Caught between grief and frustration, Bayelsa residents are demanding more than just investigations. They want outcomes. They want:

• Regular inspections of heavy vehicles — ensuring brakes, tires, and other safety-critical systems are up to standard.
• Stricter licensing laws — both for drivers and for companies transporting dangerous loads.
• Penalties for overloading and dangerous driving, especially in cases involving corporate entities.
• Accountability and transparency when accidents happen, there must be public access to the causes and to the steps being taken to prevent repeats.

As the sun rose in Yenagoa this morning, a somber silence still hung over Epie Creek Bridge. Yellow caution tape marked where the accident took place. Broken glass and twisted metal littered the roadside. Some residents were helping move debris; others simply stood, devastated. They know this could have been them.

Bayelsa deserves roads where families can travel safely. They deserve corporate responsibility. And tonight, with yet another Dangote truck crash making headlines, they want justice.