Seven Dead, Five Injured in Fiery Niger Road Crash
- Seven people were killed and five others injured when a trailer lost its brakes and crashed into vehicles at Madalla junction in Niger State
- Witnesses said the crash followed a minor accident between a bus and a Golf car, as the drivers argued over compensation before the trailer arrived
- The trailer burst into flames after the collision, burning passengers beyond recognition and leaving residents blaming poor road safety measures during construction
CHECK OUT: How to Start Earning with Copywriting in Just 7 Days – Even if You’re a Complete Beginner
At least seven people lost their lives and five others sustained varying degrees of injuries when a trailer rammed into several vehicles and burst into flames at Madalla junction in Suleja, Niger State.
The crash occurred around 11:30 a.m. on Friday and left some of the victims burned beyond recognition, Daily Trust reported.
Source: Facebook
Brake failure sparks deadly Niger trailer crash
Witnesses said the trailer, which was heading from the Zuba axis of Abuja, collided with about four vehicles before coming to a halt at a road barrier.
A resident, Saleh Haruna, explained that the disaster followed an earlier minor accident between a commercial bus and a Golf car.
He said the drivers were arguing over compensation when the speeding trailer descended the slope and lost control.
“The two drivers of the affected cars engaged in an argument, with the hummer bus driver offering to pay N200,000 to the owner of the Golf car to replace the screen, who, however, insisted on N400,000 compensation,” Haruna recounted.
The trailer then ran over the bus, partially hit the Golf car and caught fire, burning the bus with passengers trapped inside.
Four passengers of the bus were confirmed dead at the scene, their remains charred beyond recognition before rescuers could pull them out.
Seven survivors, including the trailer driver, were rushed to Lukas Hospital in Madalla, Niger state. Chief Medical Director of the hospital, Dr. Ugwoegbu Valentine, said three of the injured later died, while one remains in critical condition.
Source: Facebook
The driver of the trailer, identified as Sulaiman Rabiu, was taken into police custody at the Madalla Division. Rabiu told reporters that he had set out from Warri in Delta State on Tuesday with a load of livestock feed bound for Kano.
“I arrived Zuba town safely some minutes after 11 a.m. on Friday. However, as I was descending down toward Madalla town, I lost my brake which led to this accident,” he said.
Residents blame construction for fatal Madalla accident
Residents blamed ongoing road construction on the Abuja-Kaduna highway for repeated crashes in the area.
They accused the new contractor handling the project of failing to provide adequate caution signs and safe road shoulders for motorists.
Police at the Madalla Division confirmed the incident and the casualty figures while investigations continue.
Bandits abduct seven residents
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that in a fresh attack in the northern part of Kwara State, bandits abducted several residents of the state despite the recent arrest of a dreaded terrorist leader, Mahmud Mohammed Usman.
Suspected bandits killed a prominent community member in Lade, Patigi LGA, and abducted others in another major community in the state.
Residents are fleeing their homes due to repeated bandit attacks, while community leaders express fear and anger over the continued insecurity.
Angry Kwara youths ban truck movements
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that residents of several communities in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara state banned the entry of trucks and lorries into their villages, accusing some drivers of collaborating with bandits who have been terrorising Kwara South.
The development followed a massive protest held on Wednesday morning, August 20, which was live-streamed on Facebook by a user identified as Okit Olamide and monitored by Legit.ng.
Source: Legit.ng
