A few days after two children of former Bauchi State Deputy Governor, Senator Baba Tela, died in a road accident, another tragic crash has claimed seven lives along the same Bauchi-Maiduguri highway on Saturday.
The Bauchi State Sector Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), RS12.1, confirmed that seven persons were killed while five others sustained varying degrees of injuries in a fatal road traffic crash that occurred on Saturday at Kajutu village along the Bauchi-Maiduguri Federal Highway.
The latest tragedy has thrown Misau local government area into mourning, as all seven victims were reportedly indigenes of the area.
The deceased were identified as Garba Babaji, Alkali Galadima, Aliyu Samanja, Abba Abbo, Amadu Guruza, Rabiu Baura and Ibrahim Gucho.
According to the FRSC, the crash occurred at about 12:05 p.m. and was reported two minutes later, while rescue personnel arrived at the scene at 12:22 p.m.
The accident involved a commercial Galaxy Sharon minibus with registration number KRF 198XA, operated under the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and driven by Musa A. Musa, and a MAN Diesel tipper truck transporting sand, which had no registration number.
Preliminary investigations by the FRSC attributed the crash to sign light violation and dangerous driving on a paved but rough section of the highway.
A total of 12 people were involved in the crash, comprising 10 adult males, one adult female and one male child. Of the number, seven adult males lost their lives, while five others, three adult males, one adult female and one male child, sustained injuries.
The FRSC said items recovered from the victims included six Android phones, five feature phones, N34,250 in cash, three caps, one travelling bag and one wallet.
The injured victims and the bodies of the deceased were evacuated to the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH), Bauchi, for treatment and confirmation of death. The rescue operation was led by SMI M. Mustapha.
Reacting to the tragedy, former senator representing Bauchi Central, Senator Isah Hamman Misau, expressed deep sorrow over the incident.
In a condolence message posted on his Facebook page, Misau described the accident as a painful loss to the people of Misau, noting that the victims were young people and breadwinners whose contributions would be greatly missed.
He prayed for Almighty Allah to forgive their shortcomings, grant them Aljannatul Firdaus, and give their families and the people of Misau the strength to bear the irreparable loss.
The former lawmaker also urged motorists and road users to strictly observe traffic regulations to prevent further loss of lives on the highways.
The latest accident has renewed concerns over the increasing number of fatal crashes along the Bauchi-Maiduguri highway, following the recent death of two children of former Deputy governor, Senator Baba Tela, in a separate road accident on the same route.
