15 Die In Tragic Road Accident In Sokoto

15 individuals reportedly died in an accident on Saturday in Mairuwa, a village situated along the Funtua-Sokoto highway.

The state command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) labelled the event as “preventable and foreseeable,” pointing to inadequate vehicle upkeep and the driver’s carelessness as the leading causes.

A report issued by the state FRSC spokesperson, Olusegun Ogungbemide, on Saturday mentioned that the collision took place at around 11 am.

According to him, the accident was a result of a Toyota Hiace bus transporting people from Kano suffering a tire failure, which led to the driver losing control.

The bus then collided directly with a Sino truck owned by the Dangote Group, leading to several fatalities, with the majority of the victims being passengers on the bus.

“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, one female adult, one male child, and 3 female children. Of this number, 13 victims (11 male adults, one female adult, and one male child) were rescued with varying injuries.

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

The other 13 people, who suffered different kinds of injuries, were quickly taken to Funtua General Hospital for medical care.

In response to the event, FRSC Corps Marshal Shehu Mohammed showed significant worry about the ongoing problem of inadequate vehicle upkeep on Nigerian streets.

Mohammed mentioned that following traffic laws, which involve regular inspections and adhering to legal speed limits, might have prevented the accident.

“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.

Mohammed further urged transport unions, fleet operators, and individual vehicle owners to prioritize safety by ensuring their vehicles are roadworthy.

He stressed the shared responsibility of all road users to maintain safe driving practices to prevent future accidents.