A devastating accident at Madalla Junction in Suleja, Niger State, claimed the lives of at least seven people and left five others injured on Friday around 11:30 am.
The incident involved a truck trailer, which plowed into four vehicles before crashing into a road barrier, sparking a fire that engulfed a commercial bus.
According to eyewitness Saleh Haruna, the tragedy was preceded by a minor collision between a commercial bus and a Volkswagen Golf, which led to a heated argument between the drivers over compensation for a damaged windshield.
The bus driver offered N200,000, while the Golf driver demanded N400,000. Moments later, the trailer, descending from Zuba, lost control and rammed into the vehicles, crushing the bus and partially hitting the Golf before catching fire.
“Four passengers in the bus were burnt beyond recognition,” Haruna recounted, noting that rescuers managed to pull their bodies from the wreckage. Seven survivors, including the trailer driver, were rushed to Lukas Hospital in Madalla.
On Saturday, Dr. Ugwoegbu Valentine, Chief Medical Director of the hospital, confirmed that three of the injured had succumbed to their injuries, with one other in critical condition.
Four passengers in the bus were burnt beyond recognition
The trailer driver, Sulaiman Rabiu, now in custody at the Madalla Police Division, told Daily Trust that he had been transporting livestock feed from Warri, Delta State, to Kano when the accident occurred. “I arrived in Zuba safely, but as I descended toward Madalla, I lost my brakes,” Rabiu explained. He was later escorted back to the hospital by police for further treatment.
The incident adds to a growing number of accidents along the Abuja-Kaduna highway since road construction began earlier this year.
Local residents have criticized the new construction company, which took over from Julius Berger, for failing to provide adequate road signs, regulations, or shoulders for safe parking.
I arrived in Zuba safely, but as I descended toward Madalla, I lost my brakes
A senior police officer at the Madalla Division confirmed the casualty figures but declined further comment in the absence of the Divisional Police Officer.
As investigations continue, the tragedy underscores the urgent need for improved road safety measures in the region.
