A tragic road accident in Niger State claimed the lives of eight farmers on Monday night following a head-on collision between a Toyota Corolla and a tanker trailer.
The incident occurred at about 8:00 PM along the Batati/Lanle Road, en route to Kutigi in Lavun Local Government Area.
Eyewitnesses and sources revealed that the Toyota Corolla, reportedly speeding, attempted to overtake another vehicle before crashing into the oncoming tanker trailer, which was heading to Lagos State for fuel loading.
The impact of the collision has left all passengers in the Corolla crushed beyond recognition.
According to local sources, the deceased were farmers who had migrated from Zone B of Niger State to Dasu village in Lavun LGA due to ongoing security challenges in their former communities. They had sought refuge in the area to continue their farming activities.
A source who was present at the scene described the accident as horrifying. “It was a terrible sight. All the victims were men of varying ages, and their bodies were beyond recognition,” he said. The witness called on the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) to intensify efforts in cautioning drivers against overspeeding and reckless overtaking, which often lead to such fatal crashes.
Mohammed Sanusi, Assistant Commander of the Road Transport Employees Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), Kutigi branch, confirmed the incident and expressed his grief. “The sight of their crushed bodies brought tears to my eyes. May God Almighty forgive their shortcomings,” he said.
Sanusi also commended the coordinated efforts of the FRSC, Red Cross, and RTEAN personnel in evacuating the victims and retrieving their remains. The bodies were subsequently buried in Dasu village on Tuesday in accordance with Islamic rites.
As of the time of filing this report, neither the Niger State Government nor relevant authorities, including the Niger State Command of the Nigerian Police Force and the Federal Road Safety Commission, had issued official statements on the incident.
The tragedy highlights the pressing need for stricter road safety measures and driver awareness campaigns to prevent future occurrences of such devastating accidents.