A tragic accident on the Kano–Zaria highway claimed the lives of 21 individuals on Sunday morning in what has been described as one of the deadliest crashes in recent times.
The incident occurred at Kasuwar Dogo in the Dakatsalle area around 8:23 a.m. and involved a Toyota Hummer Bus and a DAF trailer.
According to the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), 24 people were onboard the vehicles at the time of the crash.
Kano Sector Commander of the FRSC, Mohammed Bature, confirmed the incident and attributed the cause to a traffic violation by the driver of the Toyota bus.
The vehicle, which was traveling against traffic, collided with the trailer, resulting in an intense fire that engulfed both vehicles.
A statement from the FRSC spokesperson, Abdullahi Labaran, revealed that the Toyota Hummer Bus with registration number KMC 171 YM crashed into the trailer, marked GWL 422 ZE, after veering into the wrong lane.
The fire that followed left 21 passengers dead on the spot, while three others sustained injuries.
The remains of the deceased have been taken to the mortuary at Nassarawa Hospital, Kano, and the injured are being treated at Garun Malam General Hospital.
Emergency services, including the FRSC, fire service personnel, and police officers, quickly arrived at the scene to extinguish the fire and clear the road for normal traffic flow.
Commander Bature expressed deep condolences to the affected families and warned motorists against reckless driving, especially route violations and night travel, which are often responsible for high fatality rates on Nigerian highways.
“The loss of these lives is heartbreaking and could have been avoided. We urge all road users to comply with traffic laws and drive with caution,” he said.
The FRSC reiterated its commitment to enhancing safety on the roads and advised the public to be vigilant and responsible behind the wheel.