A tragic road accident on the Zaria–Kano Highway has claimed the lives of 12 travellers in the early hours of Friday in Samawa Village, Garun Malam Local Government Area of Kano State.
Public Relations Officer of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Kano Command, Abdullahi Labaran, confirmed the development while addressing journalists. According to him, the crash occurred around 2:40 a.m. and involved a DAF CF95 trailer with registration number KMC 931 ZE, which was reportedly carrying both goods and passengers.
“A total of 19 persons were involved in the crash. Unfortunately, 12 lost their lives, five sustained varying degrees of injuries, while two were rescued without any harm,” Labaran said.
Preliminary investigation by the corps attributed the incident to a mechanical failure. “The hook attaching the cab to the trailer reportedly broke, which caused the driver to lose control,” he explained.
The FRSC spokesperson added that the deceased victims had been deposited at Nassarawa Hospital mortuary, while the injured were rushed to Kura General Hospital for urgent medical attention.
Meanwhile, the Sector Commander, CC MB Bature, who visited the crash site, expressed sympathy to the bereaved families and prayed for the quick recovery of those injured.
“This unfortunate incident reiterates the need for drivers to strictly adhere to safety procedures and ensure their vehicles are in good working condition before embarking on any journey,” Bature stated.
He warned that motorists who disregard road safety regulations would henceforth face stricter penalties.
The FRSC also appealed to road users to remain vigilant and cooperate with safety personnel, especially during night travel, to reduce fatalities on the nation’s highways.