A devastating road accident claimed the lives of 18 people, including several children, on Tuesday afternoon in Danmasara village, Dutse Local Government Area.
The crash involved two Volkswagen Golf cars and a tipper truck along the Dutse-Kwanar Huguma road. According to the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) spokesperson in the state, Corps Route Commander Yahaya Ibrahim, the tragedy struck around 12:15 p.m. when one of the Golf vehicles suffered a tyre burst due to excessive speeding, causing the driver to lose control. It collided head-on with the second car, and moments later, the oncoming tipper truck slammed into the wreckage.
Twenty people were involved in total. Eighteen died at the scene or shortly after, among them men, women, and children. The tipper driver and his assistant survived but sustained serious injuries and are receiving treatment.
FRSC rescue teams quickly arrived, evacuating the injured and the bodies to Dutse General Hospital. Jigawa Sector Commander Umar Matazu described the scene as heartbreaking, noting that many victims had little chance of survival given the force of the impacts.One of the Golf cars was reportedly carrying a large family group heading to a wedding, adding to the grief in the community.
Preliminary investigations point to speeding, poor tyre maintenance, and possible overloading as key factors.Matazu urged drivers to check their vehicles thoroughly, especially tyres, and to avoid speeding. "These accidents are often preventable with a bit more caution," he said.
This incident comes just days after another fatal crash in Ringim Local Government Area on Christmas Day, where 11 people died. Road safety officials are calling for stricter enforcement to curb the rising toll on Nigeria's highways as the new year approaches.
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