How Did 9 People Die in a Bus–Truck Crash Near Ijebu-Ode, Nigeria?

Quick answer: Nine bus passengers — three men and six women — died when their bus collided with a truck near Bethel, Ijebu-Ode, in Ogun State, Nigeria, on 6 October 2026. Among the dead was food blogger Esther Meinzide, known online as "Big Esther", who was travelling with her younger sister to visit relatives. Weeks earlier she had posted about her fear of dying in a road accident. Emergency number in Nigeria: 112.

Key facts

• What: Bus–truck collision
• Where: Near Bethel, Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, Nigeria
• When: 6 October 2026
• Toll: 9 dead (3 men, 6 women), all bus passengers
• Notable victim: Esther Meinzide ("Big Esther"), food blogger, travelling with her younger sister
• Status: Reported by multiple outlets; investigation details pending

What happened

The bus was carrying passengers toward Lagos when it collided with a truck near Bethel in the Ijebu-Ode area of Ogun State on 6 October, according to reporting by the Kenyan outlet Need To Know, carried by incidentia.ru and widely shared by Nigerian entertainment outlets.

Medics could not save nine of the bus's passengers — three men and six women. Among them was Esther Meinzide, a fast-rising Nigerian food creator who blogged under the name "Big Esther". She shared recipes and cooking content with her followers and was regarded in Nigeria as a rising social media star. She was on the bus with her younger sister; both were travelling to visit relatives.

After the tragedy, subscribers recalled that on 5 September Meinzide had posted about her fear of dying in a road crash, writing that she kept reassuring herself everything would be fine — but asking followers to imagine dying in a crash on a cold day. The post, shared weeks before the collision, has since been widely recirculated by her followers.

Where it happened

Ijebu-Ode is a major city in Ogun State, south-western Nigeria, on the busy corridor linking Lagos with the rest of the south-west. The road carries heavy intercity bus and freight traffic, and bus–truck collisions on the route have repeatedly produced large casualty counts. In an emergency in Nigeria dial 112. See the Nigeria live accident page for everything reported there in the last 24 hours.

Road safety in Nigeria: the numbers

Nigeria records one of the highest road death tolls in Africa, with intercity bus crashes a recurring cause of mass casualties. Overloaded and poorly maintained vehicles, speeding, driver fatigue and weak enforcement combine to make long-distance road travel especially dangerous. See the full trend chart on the Nigeria tracking page and driving rules on the Nigeria driving laws page.

If you travel on routes like this

• Choose reputable transport operators with maintained vehicles
• Wear the seatbelt wherever one is fitted, including on buses
• Avoid night travel on intercity routes where possible — visibility and fatigue raise the risk
• Never assume the other vehicle sees you at night or in rain
• Know the local emergency number before you travel — our emergency numbers directory covers every country

What happens next

Nigerian road safety authorities normally investigate fatal bus crashes through the Federal Road Safety Corps, examining vehicle condition, speed and driver hours. Where negligence is found, operators can face prosecution and compensation claims from victims' families. We update the Nigeria live page as new reports surface; the original outlets linked below will carry the confirmed details first.

Frequently asked questions

Who was "Big Esther"?

Esther Meinzide, a Nigerian food blogger and content creator known online as "Big Esther". She shared cooking content and recipes with her followers and was regarded as a rising social media star in Nigeria. She died in the 6 October bus crash alongside her younger sister.

Where did the bus crash happen?

Near Bethel in the Ijebu-Ode area of Ogun State, south-western Nigeria — on the busy corridor toward Lagos — on 6 October 2026.

What did she post before the crash?

On 5 September, weeks before the collision, Meinzide posted about her fear of dying in a road accident, writing that she kept reassuring herself everything would be fine while asking followers to imagine dying in a crash on a cold day.

What is the emergency number in Nigeria?

Dial 112. Full list: emergency numbers for every country.

Follow this story

New reports appear on our live world map as they surface — it refreshes every 15 minutes from multiple sources. Today's reports from every country are on accidents today; each day's confirmed reports are archived in the daily digest, and Nigeria-specific updates land on the Nigeria page. To see how this country compares worldwide, check the global driving-risk rankings; the methodology page explains every estimate we publish.

*This is a developing story compiled from verified reporting; figures may change as official information is released.*

Sources: incidentia.ru — https://incidentia.ru/news/nigeriyskaya-blogersha-pogibla-v-dtp-kotoroe-2026-10-12; Need To Know. Live tracking: our world map updates every 15 minutes.