Tragedy struck along the Jama’are–Azare Road in Bauchi State on Friday as nine passengers lost their lives and 10 others sustained varying degrees of injuries in a fatal road traffic crash, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has confirmed.
Route Commander and Public Education Officer of the FRSC, Bauchi Sector Command, Musa Kayo, who confirmed the accident, said the crash involved a commercial vehicle with registration number KTG 181 ZZ, conveying 19 passengers.
He said the ill-fated vehicle was travelling from Gombe State to Kano State when the accident occurred.
“Preliminary findings indicate that nine passengers died on the spot, while ten others sustained varying degrees of injuries,” he said.
Although investigations were still ongoing to establish the exact cause of the crash, Mr Kayo noted that initial assessments pointed to over-speeding, driver fatigue and loss of control as possible factors.
He said emergency responders from the FRSC promptly arrived at the scene, rescuing the injured victims and conveying them to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Azare, for urgent medical attention.
Mr Kayo said the bodies of the deceased were also deposited at the morgue of the same facility.
The FRSC expressed concern over the recurring loss of lives on highways and urged motorists to adhere strictly to traffic rules, avoid excessive speed and ensure adequate rest before embarking on long journeys.
