No fewer than 25 people have been killed in a crash at Udubo along Hadeja-Potiskum Road in the Gamawa Local Government Area of Bauchi State.
Ten others reportedly sustained varying degrees of injuries in the lone crash, which involved a Toyota Hummer bus.
The Sector Commander, Federal Road Safety Corps, Bauchi State, Yusuf Abdullahi, confirmed the incident to our correspondent on Friday.
He said a total of 35 people, comprising 19 male adults, 11 female adults, two male children and three female children, were involved in the incident.
According to him, the driver of the bus lost control and rammed into 11 people taking shelter under a tree close to a car wash.
Abdullahi said, “Yes, there was a lone crash at Udubo, along Hadeja-Potiskum route in the Gamawa Local Government Area of Bauchi State. The crash occurred on Thursday, March 23, 2023.
“The crash involved an ash-coloured commercial Toyota Hummer bus with the number plate, JMA 59XA. The crash was caused by overloading and speed violation, which led to a tyre burst and loss of control.
“The driver, whose name is not yet known, lost control and ran into some people taking shelter under a tree. You know, because the weather is hot, they were under the tree when some of them were killed.
“A total of 24 people were inside the Hummer bus, while the remaining 11 people were taking shelter under the tree close to a car wash as stated by men of the Nigeria Police Force.”
“It was at the hospital that a medical doctor confirmed 25 people –nine male adults, 11 female adults, two male children and three female children dead. Ten others sustained various degrees of bruises.”
Meanwhile, the Corps Marshal, FRSC, Mr Dauda Biu, has directed the immediate establishment of a command with operational facilities in Gamawa, Bauchi State, to avert road crashes.
The Corps Public Education Officer, Assistant Corps Marshal Bisi Kazeem, in a statement said Biu gave the order in Abuja following the fatal crash in the state.
He said it was necessary for the establishment of a command to tackle incidents relating to abuse of traffic rules as well as entrench safety along that route to curtail excesses of erring drivers.
