6 dead, 11 injured in Kaduna – Zaria road auto-crash

The Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, Kaduna Sector Command, has said six persons died and 11 sustained injuries in a road crash on the Kaduna-Zaria expressway.

The Sector Commander, Mr Kabir Nadabo, told the News Agency of Nigeria in Kaduna that the road traffic crash occurred at Aliko filling station on the Kaduna-Zaria expressway on Tuesday at about 06:25hrs.

Nadabo said the multiple accidents were caused by speeding and dangerous driving, which resulted in the temporary halting of motorists’ movement.

He, however, said that the road was now free and clear for movement, explaining that the rescue team of Zebra 35 Rigachikun responded promptly to the scene and conducted the rescue.

“The initial investigation of the crash revealed that 23 people were involved in the crash, 11 were injured and sadly, all 6 lost their lives,” Nadabo said.

He said that the investigation revealed that the Toyota bus was coming from Ilesha and heading to Batsari, in Katsina State, adding, ” The driver was at high speed, lost control and rammed into a moving vehicle, thus causing the crash.”

Nadabo said most of the road traffic crashes on the highway were caused by motorists not from Kaduna State but mostly from other states and were due to fatigue.

He stated that as the lead agency in transport management and road safety, the FRSC was saddened by this unfortunate but avoidable incident.

”The Corps in Kaduna State will continue to perform its statutory duty of saving lives and properties and, most fundamentally, creating awareness of the dangers of road safety vices and unethical road culture.

“Kaduna State is a critical corridor; therefore, the state Command has established instruments of safety that will guide transporters on the importance of safe travels in this yuletide season and beyond.

”Remember, the more we educate motorists on the significance of cultivating safety behaviour on the roads, the less Road Traffic Crashes will be experienced,” he said.

He called on the stakeholders, particularly the transport unions, to help reach out and advocate the language of safety to their drivers.

Nadabo added that the corps was liaising with media outlets to better inform the public on the dangers of dangerous driving, overloading, driving with worn-out tyres and fatigue caused by long journeys and other factors.

The sector commander appealed to all categories of road users to abide by safe driving ethics at all times.