Tragically, sixteen individuals lost their lives, and four others sustained serious injuries in a motor accident on the Kano-Zaria highway around 11:30 am yesterday. The involved passenger bus, departing from Kano and en route to Markudi, Benue State, crashed at Taban Sani Junction, Tashar Yari, on the Zaria-Kano expressway. Kabir Nadabo, the Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) for Kaduna State, confirmed the incident in an official statement.
The lone accident was attributed to overspeeding, leading to the driver losing control of the vehicle and crashing into a ditch. Nadabo reported that the deceased victims were taken to the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH), Shika – Zaria, with the passenger manifest to aid identification and family notification. The injured individuals were transported to the General Hospital in Makarfi, Kaduna State.
The statement by Nadabo outlined the details of the incident, stating that a Toyota bus with registration number TRB 674ZG 35XB was involved. An initial investigation revealed that 20 people were on board, with four sustaining injuries and unfortunately, 16 losing their lives.
Expressing sadness over the avoidable incident, Nadabo emphasized the FRSC’s commitment to its role in transport management and road safety. He reassured that the FRSC in Kaduna State would persist in its duty to save lives and property while advocating for responsible road behavior. Nadabo urged stakeholders, especially transport unions, to engage drivers in promoting safety awareness and responsible driving practices.