Nigeria: Tragedy strikes on Nigerian highways: 29 dead in separate crashes

By Zuleihat Owuiye, Mamos Nigeria

A devastating Sunday unfolded in Nigeria as two separate road accidents in Kano and Lagos claimed at least 29 lives, leaving many others severely injured.

In Kano State, a deadly collision between a Toyota Hummer bus and a DAF trailer on the Kano–Zaria highway led to a fiery crash that killed 21 people. According to the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), the bus had veered off its designated route and collided head-on with the trailer near Kasuwar Dogo in Dakatsalle at about 8:23 a.m. The impact sparked a fire that engulfed both vehicles.

Out of the 24 passengers involved, only three survived with injuries and are receiving treatment at Garun Malam General Hospital. The charred remains of the victims have been moved to Nassarawa Hospital Mortuary.

FRSC officials, alongside fire services and the police, responded swiftly to the scene, and normal traffic has since resumed. The Kano Sector Commander, Mohammed Bature, expressed condolences to the grieving families and cautioned drivers against reckless behavior, particularly route violations and night travel.

In a similar tragedy in Lagos, eight people were confirmed dead when a commercial Mazda bus collided with a truck at Atura Bus Stop along the Badagry Expressway. Witnesses reported that the bus was speeding before the driver lost control and crashed into the truck.

Rescue teams from LASTMA, FRSC, the police, and soldiers from the 244 Battalion arrived promptly. Eight passengers were rescued from the wreckage and rushed to Badagry General Hospital with critical injuries.

Preliminary findings from the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority indicate that excessive speed was the main cause of the crash. LASTMA’s General Manager, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, who visited the site, described the accident as a painful reminder of the dangers of speeding. He urged drivers to adhere to traffic regulations to avoid unnecessary loss of life.

The incident has left the Badagry community in mourning, with residents demanding tougher laws against reckless driving. “This keeps happening,” said one resident, Igbekeleoluwa Ranti. “The government must act now. These deaths are preventable.”

Authorities in both states have vowed to strengthen enforcement and promote road safety initiatives to curb such fatal accidents.