A day of tragedy unfolded on the roads of Jigawa State last Tuesday, resulting in the devastating loss of 23 lives across two separate road accidents.
First Crash: A Chain of Collisions on Dutse-Kiyawa Road
The first and more deadly incident occurred at precisely 2:00 PM on Tuesday, 29th December, in the Danmasara Quarters area along the Dutse-Kiyawa Road. According to the Police Spokesperson for the Jigawa State Police Command, SP Shisu Lawal, the sequence of events began when the driver of a Volkswagen Golf 3, with registration number KYW 500 XA, lost control of the vehicle.
The car first collided with a street light, veered dangerously into the opposite lane, and then crashed head-on into another red Volkswagen Golf 3, registered as RAN 836 XA. The tragedy was compounded when an oncoming tipper truck, bearing registration number BUU 289 XA, crushed both vehicles in the aftermath of the initial collision.
The consequences were catastrophic. Sixteen passengers died instantly at the scene. Two more victims later succumbed to their severe injuries while receiving medical treatment, bringing the death toll from this single crash to eighteen. Two other individuals survived and were listed in critical condition at the Dutse General Hospital.
Preliminary police investigations revealed that all eighteen deceased—comprising ten men and eight women—were from the same community. They were all identified as residents of Fake village in the Kiyawa Local Government Area of Jigawa State.
Second Fatal Accident Hours Later in Ringim
As the community was reeling from the first disaster, another fatal crash occurred just a few hours later. This second accident took place at Bandawa village within the Ringim Local Government Area.
While detailed circumstances of this crash were not immediately released in the initial report, authorities confirmed that it resulted in the deaths of five more individuals. This brought the grim total for the day to 23 lives lost on Jigawa's roads.
A Sobering Reminder of Road Safety Challenges
These back-to-back tragedies have cast a pall over Jigawa State and highlighted persistent concerns about road safety in Nigeria. The high fatality rate, particularly in the first accident involving multiple vehicles, points to the severe consequences of losing control on major roads.
The incidents serve as a stark reminder for all road users—drivers, passengers, and transport authorities—of the critical need for:
- Strict adherence to speed limits and safe driving practices.
- Proper vehicle maintenance to prevent mechanical failures.
- Increased vigilance and possible road safety audits on busy corridors.
The Jigawa State Police Command continues its investigation into the precise causes of both accidents as families and communities mourn an immense and sudden loss.
