No fewer than eight persons, including four children, lost their lives. In contrast, 17 others sustained varying degrees of injuries in a fatal road traffic crash along the Funtua–Katsina highway in Bakori Local Government Area of Katsina State.
The crash occurred at about 1:32 p.m. on Sunday at Layin Kukah along the Funtua–Katsina route, according to the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), RS1.3 Katsina Sector Command.
The Public Education Officer of the FRSC Katsina Sector Command, DRC Shamsudeen Babajo, confirmed the incident in a statement issued to Journalists, urging motorists to avoid dangerous overtaking and always adhere to traffic regulations to prevent avoidable road crashes.
He explained that the accident involved a Toyota Hiace commercial bus with registration number 14B 92 TR and a Bajaj commercial tricycle with no registration number.
A total of 25 persons were involved in the crash, comprising 16 adult males, 4 adult females, 2 male children, and 3 female children. Of the number, 17 victims suffered various injuries, including fractures and deep lacerations. The injured comprised 15 adult males and two adult females.
The corps said eight persons died in the crash, including two adult males, two adult females, three female children and one male child. No occupant escaped the accident unhurt.
According to the FRSC, information about the crash was received at 1:34 p.m., while its rescue team arrived at the scene at about 2:04 p.m., recording a response time of 30 minutes.
Preliminary investigations identified wrongful overtaking as the probable cause of the crash. The identities of the drivers involved could not be immediately established.
The FRSC rescue team, in collaboration with the Community Watch Corps (C-Watch), evacuated the victims from the scene.
The injured were taken to Bakori Comprehensive Hospital for treatment. At the same time, the bodies of the deceased were initially deposited at the same facility before being transferred to the General Hospital, Funtua.
