At least seven people have been killed, and five others injured, in a multi-vehicle accident involving a truck trailer at Madalla junction in Suleja, Niger State.
The incident occurred around 11:30 a.m. on Friday.
According to eyewitnesses, the truck, coming from the Zuba area of Abuja, collided with approximately four vehicles before coming to a halt at the junction, where the driver directed it towards a road barrier.
A resident, Saleh Haruna, explained that the accident followed a minor collision between a commercial bus and a golf car.
“The two drivers got into an argument, with the bus driver offering N200,000 to the golf car owner for the screen, but the owner insisted on N400,000,” Haruna said.
He added that following this initial dispute, the trailer ran over the bus and partially struck the golf car before catching fire, engulfing the bus.
Four passengers were burnt beyond recognition before rescuers retrieved their bodies, while seven survivors, including the trailer driver, were rushed to Lukas Hospital in Madalla.
Chief Medical Director Dr Ugwoegbu Valentine confirmed that three of the injured had died, with one patient still in critical condition.
The trailer driver, identified as Sulaiman Rabiu, was later taken into custody at the Madalla Police Division.
Speaking to our reporter, Rabiu said he had departed Warri, Delta State, on Tuesday carrying bags of wheat-based livestock feed for Kano State.
“I arrived Zuba town safely just after 11 a.m. on Friday. However, while descending towards Madalla town, I lost my brakes, which led to this accident,” he stated.
He was later returned to the hospital by police personnel.
The Divisional Police Officer of Madalla was unavailable for comment, but a senior officer confirmed the incident and the number of casualties.
