Accident scene
The death toll from the Kaduna Eid-El-Maulud auto crash has risen to 40, with most victims being children.
The incident occurred on Sunday when a J5 bus carrying children to celebrate Eid-el-Maulud lost control due to overspeeding and overloading, colliding with an articulated vehicle along Saminaka Road in Lere Local Government Area.
Initially, the Federal Road Safety Corps reported 25 fatalities, with 48 others injured. However, more victims succumbed to their injuries in hospital, bringing the total death toll to 40.
Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, expressed shock and deep sorrow, offering condolences to the victims’ families.
“This is a tragic loss of young lives, and we will do everything possible to support the affected families,” he said.
He directed the state Commissioner for Health to ensure that the surviving children receive urgent and comprehensive medical care.
Our correspondent reports that Governor Sani also plans to reach out to the families of the deceased, demonstrating his commitment to supporting those affected by this devastating incident.
The Punch reports that the accident occurred around 1:00 pm on Sunday when the J5 bus, carrying 63 children, collided with an oncoming articulated vehicle.
The Kaduna Sector Commander of the FRSC, Corps Commander Kabiru Nadabo, confirmed the incident, stating,
“The driver of the J5 bus lost control due to overspeeding, leading to the fatal crash. Fifteen children died instantly, while 48 others sustained varying degrees of injuries.”
Nadabo further explained that 10 more victims later died due to the severity of their injuries, and subsequently, more victims passed away in hospital, bringing the death toll to 40.
Nadabo stressed the importance of road safety, urging drivers to exercise caution and adhere to speed limits to prevent such tragedies.
“This accident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of reckless driving. We urge drivers to be cautious and follow speed limits to avoid similar incidents.”
Due to the severity of the injuries, some victims were transferred to ABU Teaching Hospital in Shika, the University of Jos Teaching Hospital, and Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital for proper medical attention.
The FRSC has launched an investigation into the crash.
“This accident is a wake-up call for all drivers to prioritise road safety. We will continue to educate drivers on the importance of safe driving practices.
“We must learn from this tragedy and work towards preventing such incidents in the future,” Nadabo emphasised.
“Our thoughts are with the families of the victims during this difficult time,” he added.