Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, has expressed deep sorrow over a fatal road accident in which scores of passengers were feared killed and several others injured along the Hadejia–Kano Road in Gezawa Local Government Area of the state.
In a statement by his spokesperson, Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, the governor described the accident as heartbreaking and a huge loss to Kano State.
‘This tragic incident is not only painful for the affected families but also a great loss to the entire people of Kano State’, the governor said.
The ghastly crash occurred in the early hours of Sunday at Kwanar Barde (Kwanar Danja), about 35 kilometres from Kano metropolis, involving a trailer and a commercial vehicle.
While eyewitness accounts and preliminary reports suggested that over 30 persons may have lost their lives, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Kano State Sector Command, confirmed that seven persons died and 70 others sustained varying degrees of injuries in the incident.
In a statement by the Sector Command’s spokesperson, Abdullahi Labaran, the FRSC said the command received a distress call at 8:35 a.m., and its rescue team arrived at the scene within five minutes.
‘Preliminary investigations revealed that the crash involved a commercial vehicle and a DAF trailer with registration number KTG 467 YG. A total of 105 persons were involved in the crash.
‘Unfortunately, seven persons lost their lives, while 70 sustained varying degrees of injuries, comprising 55 males and 15 females’, the statement said.
The FRSC attributed the crash to over-speeding and loss of control, worsened by the dangerous practice of conveying goods alongside passengers. It noted that the accident was classified as a single-vehicle fatal crash, adding that the road condition was good at the time of the incident.
The injured victims were evacuated to several hospitals, including Sir Sunusi Specialist Hospital, Gezawa General Hospital, Murtala Mohammed Specialist Hospital, and Abdullahi Wase Specialist Hospital, where they are currently receiving treatment.
‘The FRSC commiserates with the families of the deceased and wishes the injured victims a speedy recovery’, the statement added.
Meanwhile, Governor Abba Yusuf prayed for the repose of the souls of the deceased and asked Allah to grant their families the strength to bear the loss, while also wishing those injured a speedy recovery.
Yusuf directed the Kano State Ministry of Health to ensure that all victims admitted to hospitals receive free and adequate medical care. He also instructed the Special Adviser on Humanitarian Affairs to immediately assess the situation and recommend support measures for affected families.
He further cautioned motorists—particularly drivers of heavy-duty vehicles—to shun reckless driving and strictly adhere to traffic regulations to prevent similar tragedies.
