A tragic road accident in Katsina State on Christmas Day has resulted in the death of eleven people. The incident, which involved a severely overloaded vehicle, has prompted renewed warnings from security agencies about the dangers of speeding and poor vehicle maintenance.
Details of the Christmas Day Tragedy
The fatal crash occurred on December 25, 2025, at approximately 4:30 PM. A Golf 3 saloon car, carrying a total of 20 passengers, was travelling from Masala village in Ningi Local Government Area of Bauchi State. Its destination was Dutsi village in Mani LGA, Katsina State.
The vehicle's occupants included six men, eight women, and six children. According to reports, the driver, identified as 45-year-old Rabi’u Mohammed from Randawa village in Mani LGA, Katsina, was driving at high speed when he lost control.
The direct cause of the accident was the bursting of the car's front tyres. This critical failure caused the driver to veer off the road, and the vehicle subsequently crashed into a nearby tree.
Rescue Operation and Police Response
Upon receiving the alert, police operatives swiftly moved to the scene to rescue the victims. The nine survivors, including the driver, were immediately rushed to the nearest hospital in Ringim for urgent medical attention. Authorities confirmed that the injured are currently responding to treatment.
In the wake of the crash, the police issued a strong statement cautioning all motorists. They emphasized the need to avoid high-speed driving on highways and to conduct regular safety checks on their vehicles to prevent such fatal occurrences.
The police specifically warned commercial drivers against the dangerous practice of overloading. They reiterated that anyone found violating traffic laws will face arrest, investigation, and prosecution.
Separate Christmas Eve Accident on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway
In a related incident on Christmas Eve, seven passengers sustained various injuries in Ogun State. The accident happened around the Eledumare area of the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
A Toyota Bus, whose registration number was not immediately available, somersaulted after experiencing a tyre burst while in motion. The vehicle veered off the road and landed in a nearby bush.
Babatunde Akinbiyi, the spokesperson for the Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps (TRACE), confirmed the incident in a statement released in Abeokuta on Thursday. He noted that operatives from TRACE and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) collaborated in the rescue operation.
The injured victims were taken to Victory Hospital for treatment. The bus involved was towed to the Police Station in Isara-Remo for further investigation. Fortunately, traffic flow on the expressway was not disrupted during the rescue efforts.
