From Sola Ojo, Kaduna
The Kaduna State Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) on Sunday confirmed that 16 travelers died while four others sustained varying degrees of injury in a lone accident along the Zaria-Kano highway on Sunday.
Kaduna Sector Commander of the FRSC, Kabir Nadabo, who confirmed this to The Sun Newspapers on Sunday evening said the incident occurred at Taban Sani Junction, Tashar Yari along the Zaria-Kano highway at about 11:20 hours.
According to him, the accident occurred as a result of overspeeding and loss of control of the vehicle by the driver causing it to rammed into a dangerous ditch and killing the victims.
“There was a tragic Road Traffic crash involving a Toyota Bus with registration number TRB 674ZG 35XB traveling from Kano State to Makurdi which occurred at Taban Sani Junction, Tashar Yari along Zaria-Kano expressway, on January 21, 2024, at 11:20hrs.
“The accident was a lone one caused by overspeeding where the driver lost control of the vehicle and rammed into a ditch.
‘’An initial investigation of the crash revealed that 20 people were involved, 4 were injured, and sadly, 16 people lost their lives.
“The injured were conveyed to Makarfi General Hospital for immediate treatment while the deceased were deposited at ABU Teaching Hospital, Shika in Zaria along with the passenger Manifest to help in identifying the lost ones as well as reaching out to their families respectively.’
‘’As the lead agency in transport Management and Road safety, the FRSC is saddened by this unfortunate but avoidable incident.
“The Corps in Kaduna state will continue to perform its statutory duty of saving lives and properties and most fundamentally, creating awareness of the dangers of Road safety vices and unethical road culture”, he said.
The FRSC boss in Kaduna said the State was a critical corridor, “therefore the State Command has established instruments of safety that will guide transporters on the importance of safe travels at all times’.
He however called on stakeholders, particularly the transport unions to help reach out and advocate the language of safety to their drivers.
“In the same vein, the Corps is liaising with media outlets to better inform the public on the dangers of Dangerous driving, overloading, driving with worn-out tyres, fatigues, caused by long journeys, etc.’’