Eight Farmers Die in Tragic Niger State Road Accident
A tragic road accident involving a Toyota Corolla and a tanker trailer has claimed the lives of at least eight farmers in Niger State. The incident occurred on Monday night at approximately 8 pm along the Batati/Lanle Road near Kutigi in Lavun Local Government Area.
Eyewitness accounts suggest the Toyota Corolla, while attempting to overtake another vehicle, collided head-on with the tanker trailer, which was en route to Lagos State to load fuel. All the victims, identified as farmers, had migrated from Niger Zone B to Dasu village in Lavun Local Government Area due to insecurity in their original area.
“It was a horrible sight. All the victims were crushed beyond recognition. The road safety corps has to caution these passenger vehicles about speeding and overtaking on the roads,” said a witness who preferred to remain anonymous.
Mohammed Sanusi, Assistant Commander of the Road Transport Employee Association of Nigeria, Kutigi branch, confirmed the incident and expressed his grief over the devastating scene.
“I was shocked when I saw the way the bodies looked in the crushed vehicle. Tears ran down my eyes uncontrollably. May God Almighty forgive them their shortcomings,” Sanusi said.
Sanusi commended the efforts of Federal Road Safety Corps officers, the Red Cross, and members of the Road Transport Employee Association of Nigeria for their swift response in evacuating and retrieving the bodies. All the victims were laid to rest in Dasu village on Tuesday.
The tragedy has reignited calls for stricter road safety measures, particularly concerning speeding and reckless overtaking.
“It is imperative for the Federal Road Safety Corps to intensify public education campaigns and enforcement of traffic laws to prevent similar accidents,” added another community member who witnessed the aftermath.
As of the time of filing this report, no official statement has been issued by the Niger State government, the Nigeria Police, or the Federal Road Safety Corps regarding the accident.