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FATIGUE AND OVER SPEEDING BLAMED FOR KANO ATHLETES’ FATAL CRASH

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has attributed the fatal crash involving athletes of Kano State on their way to the National Sports Festival to the combined effects of fatigue and over speeding. The accident occurred on Saturday at Gadar Yankifii on the Kano/Kaduna highway, claiming the lives of 21 persons, all males. According to the FRSC spokesperson, Olusegun Ogungbemide, the Coaster bus with number plate KN 041 A17 veered off the road due to driver fatigue and over speeding. The bus had 24 occupants, comprising 23 males and a female, who survived with two males. All survivors are undergoing treatment at a hospital. The dead include journalists, wrestlers, kickboxers, two drivers, medical doctors, referees, and the image maker of the Kano State Sports Commission. One of the victims was identified as Imam Umar Fagge, a football referee and junior brother of Umar Fagge, the Acting Chairman of the Kano State Sports Commission. President Bola Tinubu has described the accident as a “devastating blow to the nation” that casts a dark shadow on the National Sports Festival. “It casts a shadow over the National Sports Festival, a celebration of unity, talent, and excellence,” the President said in a statement. He added that the festival has long served as a platform for discovering and nurturing athletes who bring pride to Nigeria on both national and international stages.

19 DIE IN KOGI STATE ROAD ACCIDENT

A devastating accident on the Lokoja-Obajana Road in Kogi State has claimed the lives of 19 people, with eight others injured. The incident occurred on Sunday at the Gadabiu community around 4 pm, when a truck collided head-on with a Toyota Hummer bus traveling from the South to Abuja. The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) confirmed the incident on Monday, with Kogi State Sector Commander, Mr. Kumar Tsukwam, revealing the details of the accident. According to Tsukwam, the bus was speeding and attempted to overtake a truck, but ended up facing another truck coming from the opposite direction. “It’s a very sad situation. The crash could have been avoided if the drivers had adhered to speed limits and traffic rules,” Tsukwam said. The accident involved 27 people, with only eight surviving. The survivors suffered various injuries, including cuts, bruises, broken bones, and burns. Rescue teams and the police responded promptly, rushing the injured to Fisayo Hospital in Obajana for medical attention. Tsukwam urged drivers to prioritize road safety, saying, “Highways are not racing tracks. It’s essential to follow traffic rules and be cautious to reduce the number of accidents and improve road safety across the country.” The FRSC commander’s appeal serves as a reminder of the importance of responsible driving and adherence to traffic regulations to prevent such tragic incidents in the future.

TANKER EXPLOSION VICTIMS IN NIGER STATE GIVEN MASS BURIAL

The victims of Saturday’s tanker explosion in Niger State have been given a mass burial. According to Sabon Wuse Unit Acting Sector Commander, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Ajuh Abang, 73 bodies were buried in a mass grave yesterday. Abang confirmed that 56 other victims with varied degrees of burnt injuries were taken to a local hospital. He made this disclosure while leading a team of accident investigators from FRSC to ascertain the immediate and remote cause of the carnage. The tanker explosion occurred on Saturday at Dikko Junction, Abuja-Kaduna Expressway, Niger State, resulting in the loss of many lives and destruction of property. The incident has been described as one of the deadliest tanker explosions in recent times. The FRSC team, led by Abang, visited the scene of the incident to investigate the cause of the explosion and recommend measures to prevent such incidents in the future. The team also condoled with the families of the victims and the people of Niger State over the tragic incident.

13 PASSENGERS BURNT TO DEATH IN ONDO AUTO CRASH

Tragedy struck on the Owo-Ikare highway in Ondo State on Saturday, as 13 passengers were burned to death in an auto crash. The crash occurred at Abule Panu, Ose Bridge, and involved two buses. According to Dr. Samuel lbitoye, the Ondo State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), the crash occurred at about 10:14 am. Dr. lbitoye stated, “The fatal crash claimed thirteen (13) lives of commuters in two buses. A total of 14 people were involved, out of which 13 were burnt beyond recognition, while only one was rescued alive with serious injuries.” Dr. lbitoye explained that eyewitnesses reported that the bus coming from Ikare axis had a tyre burst, leading to a loss of control and a resultant head-on collision with the bus loaded with fabric coming from Owo axis. He said, “Immediately after the collision, the two buses went up in flames.” The FRSC, Police, and Fire Service responded swiftly to the crash scene for rescue operations. Dr. lbitoye added, “The injured victim was taken to the Federal Medical Centre, Owo, while the dead ones were deposited at the morgue of the same hospital.”