A tragic road accident over the weekend claimed the lives of seven individuals and left several others injured on the Katsina-Ala–Zaki Biam Road in Benue State. The lone accident involved a heavily loaded truck carrying approximately 600 bags of cement.
The incident has thrown the local community into mourning, as the victims included individuals believed to be traveling with or working on the truck.
According to eyewitness accounts, the truck was reportedly traveling at a very high speed towards Zaki Biam when it encountered a large pothole. The impact of hitting the pothole caused the driver to lose control of the vehicle.
In a matter of moments, the truck veered off course and somersaulted, tumbling several times before coming to a halt. The heavy load of cement likely contributed to the force of the crash, worsening the impact and casualties.
The eyewitness further revealed that seven people lost their lives instantly in the crash. However, thanks to the swift response of local residents in the area, six others who sustained various degrees of injuries were rescued from the wreckage and received immediate first aid before being transported to nearby healthcare facilities for further treatment. Miraculously, two of the occupants emerged from the accident unscathed.
Confirming the incident, the Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Steve Ayodele, stated that a total of 15 people were involved in the accident. He corroborated the eyewitness report regarding the number of fatalities and injured individuals.
Commander Ayodele also assured the public that emergency response teams quickly mobilized to the scene to manage the aftermath of the accident. The debris from the overturned truck and scattered cement bags were cleared from the road to restore normal traffic flow and prevent further incidents.
The FRSC commander used the opportunity to emphasize the importance of adhering to safe driving practices, particularly when operating heavy-duty vehicles. He urged drivers to avoid excessive speeding, ensure proper vehicle maintenance, and exercise caution on roads with known hazards such as potholes.
This tragic accident highlights ongoing concerns about road safety on major highways in Nigeria, especially those plagued by poor infrastructure and lack of routine maintenance. It also underscores the need for improved monitoring and enforcement of road safety regulations to prevent such devastating occurrences in the future.