9 die in Kano, Ondo, Gombe, Lagos road crashes

Nine people have died in multiple road crashes in Kano, Ondo, Gombe and Lagos states on Wednesday. In Kano, four persons died after a Golf Wagon vehicle plunged into Tomas Dam in Dambatta Local Government Area. The incident occurred when the vehicle, travelling from Kano to Roni in neighbouring Jigawa State, reportedly crashed into the […]

Nine people have died in multiple road crashes in Kano, Ondo, Gombe and Lagos states on Wednesday.

In Kano, four persons died after a Golf Wagon vehicle plunged into Tomas Dam in Dambatta Local Government Area.

The incident occurred when the vehicle, travelling from Kano to Roni in neighbouring Jigawa State, reportedly crashed into the dam following a burst tyre.

The spokesman of the Kano State Fire Service, Saminu Yusif Abdullahi, confirmed the accident in a statement.

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“The vehicle, a Golf Wagon with an unknown registration number, crashed into Tomas Dam in Dambatta Local Government Area. The incident involved 10 persons,” he said.

He added that personnel from the Dambatta Fire Station responded promptly and rescued all the occupants from the submerged vehicle.

He said four of the victims were rescued unconscious but were later confirmed dead at the hospital.

The deceased were identified as Shamsiya Miko, aged about 35, and Fatima Danlami, aged about 40, while the identities of the two other victims had yet to be confirmed as of the time of filing this report.

“All victims were conveyed to Dambatta General Hospital for medical attention and necessary procedures,” the statement added.

2 brothers killed in Ondo crash during stop-and-search operation

Two brothers were crushed to death on Wednesday after a truck rammed into vehicles and motorcycles during a stop-and-search operation by Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIO) along Reuben Fasoranti Road in Akure, the Ondo State capital.

The victims, said to be middle-aged fruit sellers, were riding a motorcycle when the accident occurred near the VIO headquarters in Alagbaka. They died instantly.

Eyewitnesses said VIO officials were conducting checks on vehicle documents, causing heavy traffic congestion, before a truck reportedly suffered brake failure and ploughed into vehicles and motorcycles trapped in the gridlock.

A commercial driver, Ajayi Iyiola, who narrowly escaped the crash, said he had parked to deliver goods when the incident happened.

Several vehicles were damaged in the crash.

Police officers from the Ijapo Division later evacuated the victims’ bodies to the morgue.

The incident triggered outrage among residents and sympathisers, many of whom blamed the VIO operation for contributing to the traffic build-up that preceded the tragedy.

Tension rose in the area as some angry youths attempted to attack the VIO office before security operatives restored calm.

The Ondo State Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) said investigations had commenced to determine the circumstances surrounding the crash.

The FRSC added that the victims’ bodies had been deposited at the Ondo State Specialist Hospital mortuary by the police.

Policewoman, one other killed as truck rams into shops in Gombe

A policewoman and one other person were reportedly killed when a truck rammed into shops at the New Mile 3 Market on the outskirts of Gombe metropolis.

The accident occurred on Wednesday along the Gombe-Yola federal highway when a truck loaded with bags of grains rammed into the shops, killing the policewoman and another person, while injuring two others, including the driver.

Eyewitnesses said the driver, who was coming from the Taraba State axis, suffered brake failure, lost control of the vehicle and subsequently rammed the truck into nearby shops, destroying property and injuring traders and passers-by in the process.

The Gombe State Police Command confirmed the incident, stating that the accident involved a DAF truck with registration number XH 122 GME, three motorcycles, pedestrians, and nearby shops.

Buhari Abdullahi, the police spokesperson in Gombe, said preliminary investigation revealed that the truck driver, while attempting to enter a filling station through a one-way access, reportedly suffered brake failure, lost control of the vehicle and rammed into motorcycles, pedestrians and shops.

“As a result of the accident, two persons – a female police constable, Sharifa Gaina, attached to the Communications Department of the Gombe State Command, and one unidentified male pedestrian, regrettably lost their lives, while two other persons, including the truck driver, sustained injuries and are currently receiving treatment,” Abdullahi said.

Meanwhile, Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, who expressed sadness over the tragic road accident, said the incident was particularly painful because of the reported loss of a police officer and other victims.

Dispatch rider crushed to death in Lagos

A dispatch rider has died in a fatal accident involving an articulated trailer at the Ilupeju Bypass area of Lagos.

The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) confirmed the incident, saying preliminary investigations showed that the rider was allegedly struggling for the right of way with a commercial minibus, popularly known as “Korope,” before losing control of the motorcycle and crashing into the moving trailer.

The rider died instantly at the scene.

General Manager of LASTMA, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, said traffic officials monitoring the Mushin axis swiftly responded after receiving distress alerts.

He said emergency rescue and traffic management operations were immediately activated to prevent further disruption along the busy corridor.

Bakare-Oki said LASTMA operatives recovered the victim’s remains trapped beneath the trailer while traffic diversion measures were put in place to ease congestion caused by the accident.

He added that officials of the State Environmental Health Management Unit evacuated the corpse from the scene following the severity of the incident and the obstruction caused by spilled contents from the trailer.

He added that the damaged motorcycle and trailer were handed over to the Nigeria Police Force for further investigation.