The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Kaduna Sector Command reported that 11 people lost their lives and four others sustained injuries in a collision in Gwargwaje, Zaria Local Government Area.
The incident was confirmed by the Sector Commander, Kabir Nadabo, to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Kaduna.
Nadabo stated, “A crash involving a truck with registration number BAU 142 XA and a Golf salon with registration number FST 134 FX occurred at Gwargwaje, Zaria, in the early hours of Friday, precisely at 05:50 a.m. A team of policemen attached to the Gwargwaje Division conducted the rescue and informed the Unit Commander, RS1.3 Zaria, after they had finished.
“Preliminary investigation revealed that the Golf, carrying 11 people, all males, had engaged in a route violation, with no headlights, and collided with an oncoming MAN truck carrying four people. The fatal crash resulted in the instant death of all 11 people in the Golf, while the four people in the truck sustained injuries,” he said.
Following the rescue, a team from FRSC Zaria Unit arrived and transported the corpses and the injured to Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH), Shika.
Nadabo recalled that the Sector Commander RS1.1 Kaduna had been briefed by the Emir of Zazzau, Amb. Ahmad Bamalli, about the need to create an outpost at Gwargwaje to monitor and check the excesses of motorists. Nadabo noted that some motorists engage in route violations on the busy highway, a concern raised during the sector commander’s courtesy visit to the emir in September 2023.
“Gwargwaje has a roadside market with commercial activities. However, the long stretch U-turn makes it difficult for commercial riders to go round, hence they resort to route violation. I am passionately appealing for the Corps Marshal’s consideration to establish an outpost at Gwargwaje. This will help stop route violation, thereby saving lives and properties of motorists and commuters plying the busy highway,” Nadabo said.
