In a statement signed by Secretary, Edo State Government Taskforce Against Human Trafficking, Abieyuwa Oyemwense, the state government said that the incident was sad and unfortunate, and prayed that God grant the families the fortitude to bear the loss.

According to the statement, “We are informed that the incident took place at about 10: 45 pm, last week, close to Omoo River, J4 area of the route. There was a collision which involved a white Toyota Hiace, 18-seater commercial bus, with registration number, AYB 497 XA and another vehicle, a blue and white Volvo truck with registration number, KSF 79 XL.”

“The Edo State Task Force Against Human Trafficking (ETAHT) commiserates with the families of the Edo State returnees who were involved in the fatal accident on Tuesday along Ore-Ijebu-Ode Sagamu expressway in Ogun State.”

The statement added, “the returnees involved in the road mishap had been profiled by the Taskforce and were duly informed of the details relating to the payment of their stipend, skills and empowerment training packages put together by the Edo State Government for them.

“The returnees involved in the accident had left the welcome-back facility, set up by the state government to welcome Libya returnees who are indigenes of Edo, on the claim that they are going to their respective homes to reunite with their families, only for them to embark on an unauthorised journey at night.”

The task force said that it was saddened by the ill-fated accident, nothing, “While we acknowledge the right of the returnees to free movement, we warned against travelling at night.”

The task force urged returnees in her facility to utilise the period, pending the payment of their stipend and training, to visit their families and reunite with them, adding that such will enable them recover fully from their sufferings in the desert and on the high sea in Libya.