Seven people, among them two children and the driver, have been confirmed dead after a Sharon bus crashed off the Gombe–Potiskum highway in Yobe State.
The accident occurred on Friday along the Badejo–Potiskum axis when the commercial bus reportedly lost control and plunged into nearby bushland. Four other passengers were injured in the incident.
Confirming the development in Damaturu, the spokesperson of the Yobe State Police Command, SP Dungus Abdulkarim, said, “On December 26, 2025, at 16:30, the Potiskum Divisional Police Headquarters received a distress call regarding a fatal motor accident along the Badejo-Potiskum axis.”
He explained that the vehicle involved was a Sharon bus travelling from the Lawanti area of Akko Local Government Area in Gombe State to Maiduguri, Borno State.
According to Abdulkarim, “Preliminary investigation indicated that the nine-seater bus, driven by Gambo Abbo, had a rear tyre-burst and veered off the road before crashing into the roadside bush.”
He further noted that the accident was caused by a mechanical fault that made the driver lose control of the vehicle. “Consequently, the driver and four passengers died on the spot, while six others sustained varying degrees of injuries to their heads and limbs,” he said.
Police operatives from the Motor Traffic Department were immediately deployed to the scene and evacuated both the dead and injured to the State Specialist Hospital in Potiskum. Unfortunately, two of the injured later died while receiving treatment.
Those who lost their lives were identified as the driver, Gambo Abbo, 35; Umalkhairi, 18; Rabiu Abubakar, 28; Fatima Hassan, 28; Amal Abubakar, 3; Adamu Bello, 4; and Zarau Alhaji, 27. Their remains have been deposited at the hospital morgue, while efforts are ongoing to notify their families.
The Commissioner of Police in Yobe State, Emmanuel Ado, condoled with the bereaved families and prayed for the quick recovery of those injured. He cautioned motorists against reckless driving and poor vehicle maintenance.
Ado said, “Strict compliance with these safety measures remains vital in preventing avoidable road accidents,” urging members of the public to cooperate with security agencies by adhering to all traffic and safety regulations.
