A devastating road accident in Niger State has claimed the lives of at least 22 individuals, with 20 others injured, after a trailer carrying both human passengers and cattle crashed along the Lapai–Lambata road in the early hours of Monday.
According to reports, the vehicle which was travelling from Kano en-route Lagos, was overloaded with both cattle and commercial passengers, many of whom were reportedly from Zamfara State and on the road for business-related reasons.
Eyewitnesses describe a horrific scene, with numerous fatalities occurring instantly and others left critically wounded. Victims were rushed to nearby hospitals, while the severity of the crash sparked renewed concerns over unsafe transportation practices on Nigerian highways.
Confirming the tragic incident, Aishat Saadu, Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Niger State, said: “The crash occurred around 0300hrs along the Lapai – Lambata route. It was a lone crash involving a truck.
“Forty-two (42) people were involved. Twenty-two (22) dead, twenty (20) injured as at the time of rescue. The injured were taken to FMC Lambata, while the dead were taken to the General Hospital, Suleja.”
No other vehicle was involved in the crash.
The incident has once again spotlighted the dangers of overloading trucks with passengers and livestock, and the lack of enforcement of basic safety regulations on long-distance commercial routes in Nigeria.
