At least 45 individuals perished in a tragic accident along the Agaie-Bida road in Niger State, their bodies burned beyond recognition.
The collision involved a petrol-laden tanker, a truck carrying cattle, and a passenger vehicle.
According to Daily Trust, the incident occurred near Man-Woro village around 1 a.m. on Sunday.
The victims in the cattle truck were reportedly en route from Wudil, Kano State, to Lagos, while the passenger vehicle was headed for the Sunday market in Agaie.
Resident Abubakar Agaie informed our correspondent that 45 bodies were interred in Man-Woro village on Sunday morning.
Alhaji Wuchiko, a commercial driver, recounted that he transported the tanker driver and another victim to Lapai General Hospital, while additional survivors were taken to the Federal Medical Centre in Bida.
Witnesses reported that the tanker overturned while navigating the poor condition of the Agaie-Bida road.
Another witness, Yahaya Mohammed, stated that they counted 45 charred bodies that could only be identified as human remains. He explained, “The three vehicles were completely engulfed in flames. We have confirmed 45 dead bodies recognizable as human beings.”
Mohammed elaborated, “The tanker fell and caught fire. The other two vehicles—a passenger vehicle and a trailer loaded with goods and people—attempted to evade the blaze but fell victim to the inferno.”
When contacted, Kumar Tsukwam, the Niger State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), promised to provide further details, but none had been received by the time of this report.
However, Alhaji Abdullahi Baba Arah, the Director General of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency, confirmed the incident.
Arah stated, “Over 30 people have been confirmed dead, along with more than 50 cattle incinerated alive. NSEMA’s Rapid Response Team (RRT), alongside LGEMCs, is still on site conducting search and rescue operations, as more corpses may still be trapped inside the vehicles.”
Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago expressed his condolences in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Bologi Ibrahim, calling the event painful.
The governor announced that the State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) and relevant organizations had been dispatched to the scene for rescue efforts and necessary actions.
While urging the public to remain calm, he called for caution among road users, emphasizing the importance of adhering to traffic regulations to protect lives and property.
The governor also prayed for the repose of the souls of the deceased and wished a swift recovery for the injured.
