At least 45 people were burned beyond recognition in a tragic accident along the Agaie-Bida road in Niger State.
The accident involved a petrol tanker, a truck transporting cattle, and a passenger vehicle.
According to Daily Trust, the incident occurred around 1 a.m. on Sunday near Man-Woro village. The truck carrying cattle had departed from Wudil, Kano State, en route to Lagos, while the passenger vehicle was headed to the Agaie Sunday market.
A local resident, Abubakar Agaie, said 45 bodies were buried at Man-Woro village on Sunday morning. Alhaji Wuchiko, a commercial driver, reported transporting the tanker driver and another victim to Lapai General Hospital, with other survivors taken to Federal Medical Centre in Bida.
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It was learned that the tanker overturned while navigating the poor condition of the Agaie-Bida road. Another eyewitness, Yahaya Mohammed, stated that 45 bodies were recovered, all burned beyond recognition. He explained that the tanker caught fire after it fell, and the other two vehicles, trying to avoid the flames, also became engulfed.
“The three vehicles were completely destroyed by fire. We managed to count 45 bodies that were identifiable as human remains,” Mohammed said.
The Niger State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Kumar Tsukwam, said he would provide further details, but none were available at the time of reporting.
The Director General of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), Alhaji Abdullahi Baba Arah, confirmed the tragedy, stating, “Over 30 people have been confirmed dead, with more than 50 cattle burned alive. NSEMA’s Rapid Response Team (RRT), in collaboration with local emergency teams, is still conducting search and rescue operations, as more bodies remain trapped in the wreckage.”
Niger State Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago expressed his sorrow over the incident in a statement released by his Chief Press Secretary, Bologi Ibrahim. The governor described the event as heartbreaking and confirmed that NSEMA and other relevant agencies had been dispatched to the scene for rescue and relief efforts.
He urged road users to exercise caution and follow traffic regulations to prevent future tragedies. The governor also offered prayers for the souls of the deceased and wished a swift recovery for those injured.
