TheCable

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) says 11 persons lost their lives in an auto crash that occured at Gaya junction along Kano-Maiduguri road on Friday.

About 16 others were injured, and one person rescued unhurt.

Ibrahim Sallau-Abdullahi, Kano FRSC sector commander, in a statement by Abdullahi Labaran, the command’s spokesperson, said the accident involved a Toyota hummer bus and a mini pick-up.

“We received a call at about 03:45 p.m. on April 19, 2024. On receiving the information, we quickly dispatched our personnel and vehicle to the scene of the incident to rescue the victims at 03:55p.m.,” Sallau-Abdullahi.

The sector commander said the accident occurred as a result of speeding and loss of control, which led to a head-on collision.

He said the two vehicles burst into flames immediately.

“The accident involved a total of 28 passengers in the two vehicles, out of which 11 lost their lives while 16 others sustained serious injuries, one rescued unhurt,” he said.

“The injured were taken to Gaya General Hospital for urgent medical treatment, while the corpses were respectfully laid to rest in a mass burial ceremony.”

Sallau-Abdullahi emphasized the importance of compliance with road safety rules and regulations.

He urged drivers to refrain from committing traffic offences such as speed violations and overloading of vehicles with passengers, animals or goods.

Sallau-Abdullahi also advised commercial drivers to install speed limit devices in their vehicles to avoid crashes resulting from speed limit violations.

He said the command is committed to ensuring the safety of road users.

“We will intensify efforts to enforce traffic regulations to prevent similar incidents in the future,” he said.