Auto crashes in two states leave victims and communities in deep mourning. Residents express concern about the high number of accidents on the roads.
Two separate auto crashes in Nigeria have claimed the lives of at least 13 people. In Jigawa State, 10 people died in a road accident, while in Akwa Ibom State, three people lost their lives in another tragedy. Both accidents highlight ongoing road safety issues in the country.
The Police Command in Jigawa confirmed that a deadly accident occurred at Yanfari village in Taura Local Government Area. A Toyota Hummer bus, with registration number HDJ 631 YDD, was traveling from Kano to Hadejia. The bus collided with a parked trailer with the registration number RGN 180 ZC. The impact caused the bus to somersault.
Mr. Lawal Shiisu, the command’s spokesperson, said the driver and nine passengers died on the spot. A police patrol team quickly responded to the scene and evacuated the victims’ bodies to Hadejia General Hospital. The doctor on call confirmed all 10 dead, while one survivor was taken to Majia Primary Health Care Centre. This survivor is reportedly to be in stable condition.
The police have launched an investigation into the incident. Authorities have promised to hold anyone found responsible accountable.
Security and auto crashes in Akwa Ibom
In Akwa Ibom State, another tragic auto crash took place in Utu Etim Ekpo, the headquarters of Etim Ekpo Local Government Area.
A flour-loaded truck, allegedly pursued by soldiers, crashed into shops around 8 p.m. on Monday. Three people, including a lawyer, died in the crash, while several others sustained severe injuries.
According to witnesses, the truck was flagged down by some soldiers at a checkpoint near Nkwot Ikot Ebo. The driver refused to stop and sped off, with soldiers allegedly in pursuit. As the truck approached a roundabout, the driver lost control and veered off the road. The truck crashed into several makeshift shops, killing the victims instantly.
A local resident, Eno Umanah, described the scene, saying the soldiers scrambled to avoid the speeding truck. “The truck was coming from Iwukem, and it didn’t stop at the checkpoint. It crashed into the shops by the motor park,” Umanah said.
Worries over frequent accidents
Residents in the area have expressed concern about the high number of accidents on the road. Akaninyene Umanah, another local resident, claimed over 70 people have died on this road, including travellers and churchgoers returning from a convention. Many believe that a poorly constructed roundabout in the area is to blame.
A civil engineer familiar with the site also criticized the road’s design. He claimed that a prominent politician had collaborated with government officials to alter the original plans. “The roundabout is poorly constructed. It needs to be redesigned to save lives,” he said. The engineer hopes that the latest accident will prompt action to fix the road.
Among the survivors of the Akwa Ibom crash was a woman who suffered severe leg injuries. Two nearby hospitals, Divine Love Hospital and the Utu Etim Ekpo Government Hospital, initially turned the woman away. Sympathisers took later to the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital (UUTH), which is about 45 minutes away from the crash site.
Her case highlights the challenges survivors face in getting timely medical care, especially in rural areas.
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