New Year Eve’s Tragedy! One dead, 87 injured in trailer crash

Tragedy struck on New Year’s Eve in Yobe State as one person lost his life and no fewer than 87 others were injured in a ghastly road accident involving a trailer along the Potiskum–Azare Road.

The accident occurred at about 2pm on Wednesday at the Potiskum entrance roundabout in Potiskum Local Government Area when a trailer conveying passengers to the popular Potiskum cattle market reportedly lost control and overturned.

Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer of the Yobe State Command, SP Dungus Abdulkarim, said the crash claimed one life while dozens sustained varying degrees of injuries.

“The Yobe State Police Command confirms a lone fatality and 87 injured persons following a road traffic accident involving a trailer at the Potiskum entrance roundabout,” Abdulkarim said.

He added that the injured victims were immediately evacuated to the Potiskum Specialist Hospital for medical attention, while the deceased was deposited at the hospital morgue.

According to the police spokesperson, preliminary findings showed that the trailer was overloaded with passengers.

“Investigation has commenced to determine the immediate and remote causes of the accident, and appropriate action will be taken,” he said, urging motorists and members of the public to strictly obey traffic regulations to avoid similar incidents.

Survivors disclosed that the trailer was carrying close to 100 passengers from Katagum Local Government Area of Bauchi State to the Potiskum cattle market when the accident happened.

One of the injured victims, Amir Dauda, who spoke from his hospital bed, said the crash occurred as the vehicle approached Potiskum town.

“We were coming from Azare to the Potiskum cattle market. The trailer was filled with people. As we got close to the roundabout, the driver tried to manoeuvre and suddenly the vehicle fell,” he said.

Another victim, Ibrahim Sadiq, explained that many of them boarded the trailer due to the lack of available transportation, especially on market days, despite being aware of the risks involved.

He noted that their main concern was to arrive early for the market, adding that one passenger died in the process.

A third survivor, Musa Adamu, described the scene as chaotic, saying many passengers were injured and crying for help before good Samaritans and other road users came to their rescue.