15 KILLED IN SOKOTO ROAD CRASH

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On Saturday, fifteen individuals lost their lives in a horrible road accident in Mairuwa village, which is located along the Funtua-Sokoto highway.

The incident was deemed “avoidable and preventable” by the Federal Road Safety Corps, which identified driver irresponsibility and inadequate vehicle maintenance as the main contributing reasons.

Olusegun Ogungbemide, the state FRSC spokesperson, issued a statement on Saturday stating that the accident happened at approximately 11 a.m. when a driver lost control of a Toyota Hiace bus carrying people from Kano due to a burst tire.

The bus subsequently struck a Sino truck driven by the Dangote Group in the head-on collision. Many people were hurt in the collision, and bus passengers made up the majority of the dead.

“The Mairuwa crash involved a Toyota Hiace bus with registration number MRR 83 XA, which was carrying passengers from Kano and experienced a tyre burst in Mairuwa village. The tyre burst led to a loss of control, causing the driver to crash head-on into a Sino truck belonging to the Dangote Group.

“A total of 28 people were involved, comprising 23 male adults, 1 female adult, 1 male child, and 3 female children. Of this number, 13 victims (11 male adults, 1 female adult, and 1 male child) were rescued with varying injuries.

“Meanwhile, 15 victims comprising 11 male adults, 1 female adult, and 3 female children were killed. Most of the casualties were passengers on the bus,” the statement read in part.

The remaining 13 people were sent to Funtua General Hospital for medical attention after suffering various injuries.

FRSC Corps Marshal Shehu Mohammed responded to the incident by expressing his profound worry about the persistent problem of inadequate vehicle upkeep on Nigerian roadways.

Mohammed claimed that adherence to traffic laws, such as regular inspections and respecting posted speed limits, could have prevented the catastrophe.

“If the driver had observed the established legal speed limits, ensured adequate vehicle maintenance, and complied with traffic regulations, the crash would have been avoided,” he warned.

The head of the FRSC also urged fleet operators, private car owners, and transport unions to put safety first by making sure their vehicles are roadworthy.

He emphasized that everyone using the road has a shared obligation to drive safely in order to avoid collisions in the future.