Nineteen persons have been confirmed dead while eight others were injured in a Sunday motor accident that happened on Yangoji-Gwagwalada Road in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
POLITICS NIGERIA reports that Dauda Biu, Acting Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), confirmed the figures to the press when he visited the accident scene.
According to Biu, the accident which occurred in the early hours of Sunday involved three vehicles – two Toyota Hiace buses with registration numbers MUB- 30 LG and DWR-985 XJ and an articulated vehicle.
31 persons were involved in the accident comprising 11 males, one female and 19 others who were scorched beyond recognition.
“Investigation showed that the main causes of the crash were speed limit violation and wrongful overtaking which eventually resulted in loss of control,’’ he said.
According to him, the Toyota Hiace bus with Registration Number MUB- 30 LG, crashed into the Citroen articulated vehicle and burst into flames, killing everyone on board.
“The second bus hit the first bus from behind and also caught fire. Fire melted the second bus with Bauchi State number plate,’’ Biu said.
The Acting Corps Marshal was accompanied to the scene of the accident by the management team and other rescue operatives.
Road traffic accident in Nigeria is increasing at an alarming rate and has raised a major concern for the country. Data from the FRSC and the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) says between 2013 and 2020, at least 41,709 persons have lost their lives to road crashes in the country.
