Speeding, wrong-way driving blamed as 29 die in car crashes

It was a black Sunday in Lagos and Kano as two separate road accidents claimed the lives of 29 people and left several others injured.

In Kano, 21 people were killed in a crash involving a commercial Toyota Hummer bus and a DAF trailer along the Kano–Zaria highway. The incident happened at Kasuwar Dogo in the Dakatsalle area at about 8:23 a.m.

According to a statement from the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), the accident occurred when the Toyota Hummer, bearing plate number KMC 171 YM, drove against traffic and had a head-on collision with the DAF trailer, which had registration number GWL 422 ZE. Both vehicles went up in flames after the crash.

FRSC spokesperson in Kano, Abdullahi Labaran, said 24 people were involved in the crash. “Twenty-one persons died on the spot, while three others were injured and rushed to Garun Malam General Hospital. The remains of the deceased were taken to Nassarawa Hospital Mortuary,” he said.

FRSC personnel, firefighters, and police officers worked together to rescue victims and clear the wreckage to restore traffic. The Kano State Sector Commander, Mohammed Bature, described the crash as one of the most tragic in recent times and cautioned drivers against route violations, speeding, and night travel.

In Lagos, another accident occurred at Atura Bus Stop on the Lagos-Badagry Expressway, where eight people died after a commercial 16-seater Mazda bus, with registration number KJA 811 YF, rammed into a DAF truck (registration number T1 4636 LA).

Eyewitnesses said the driver of the bus was speeding before losing control and crashing into the truck. Eight survivors were pulled out of the wreckage and rushed to the Badagry General Hospital with serious injuries.

Officials from the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), FRSC, the police, and soldiers from the 244 Battalion carried out rescue operations.

LASTMA General Manager, Mr. Olalekan Bakare-Oki, who visited the crash site, blamed the accident on excessive speeding and described the incident as “avoidable and heartbreaking.” He urged drivers to observe speed limits and obey traffic rules.

“This incident is another reminder that speed kills. No journey is worth a life. We will intensify enforcement and work to install speed-limiting devices in high-risk areas,” he added.

Investigations into both crashes are ongoing.