At least seven people have lost their lives while 41 others sustained serious injuries in a fatal crash along the Alkaleri–Gombe Federal Highway in Bauchi State. The accident occurred around 3:00 p.m. at Kirfi Junction on Friday, involving a commercial DAF trailer.
According to the First Information Report (FIR) from the RS12.13 Alkaleri Unit Command of the Bauchi State Sector Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), the lone crash was attributed to a mechanical fault. Specifically, a structural failure caused the head of the trailer to detach from its body while in motion.
Casualty Details and Response
A total of 48 people were involved in the incident, including 38 adult males and 10 male children. Among them, 41 sustained varying degrees of injuries—25 adult males and 16 male children—while seven adult males were confirmed dead at the scene.
FRSC personnel responded to the distress call at 3:02 p.m. and arrived at the scene by 3:50 p.m., marking a 48-minute response time. The rescue operation was led by DRC H.Y. Danjuma on behalf of the Unit Commander.
The injured victims were transported to the General Hospital in Alkaleri, with some later referred to the Specialist Hospital in Bauchi for advanced care. The remains of the deceased were deposited in the morgue before being handed over to their families for burial.
Governor's Intervention and Relief Package
In response to the tragedy, Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed paid a condolence visit to Kirfi Local Government Area on Friday. During his visit, the governor announced a N50 million relief package for the victims and their families.
The relief package will be distributed as follows:
N2 million for each bereaved family
N1 million for each victim still receiving treatment in hospital
N500,000 for each victim who has been discharged
Governor Mohammed also promised additional support through the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA). He described the accident as "deeply painful," especially given the loss of many young lives.
The governor strongly condemned the practice of transporting over 200 people in a single truck, calling it "highly irresponsible and unacceptable."
This incident highlights ongoing concerns about road safety and vehicle maintenance standards on Nigerian highways, particularly for commercial transport vehicles carrying large numbers of passengers.
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