A quiet Thursday dawn in Jos was shattered by tragedy as eight young men all students of the University of Jos lost their lives in a devastating road crash opposite Unity Bank on Zaria Road.
The accident, which happened around 2:30 a.m., involved a speeding bus carrying eleven students and a trailer. Eyewitnesses said the bus attempted a dangerous overtaking manoeuvre, lost control, and slammed into the trailer a split-second decision that cost eight lives.
Seven victims died on the spot, their bodies later certified by a doctor.
An eighth student succumbed to his injuries in the hospital, pushing the death toll to eight.
The remaining three students are receiving treatment, fighting for survival.
FRSC Public Education Officer Peter Longsan confirmed the grim details in an early-morning statement, noting that all the victims were male.
Sector Commander Olajide Mogaji urged motorists to shun night travel, overspeeding, reckless overtaking, and driving under fatigue factors that continue to fuel fatal crashes across the country.
“The government needs you alive this festive season and beyond,” Mogaji said, stressing the need for heightened caution.
The FRSC called on the public to report emergencies via its toll-free line, 122, as rescue efforts remain crucial in the country’s ongoing battle against road fatalities.
A campus is now in mourning, and families are left grappling with a loss that came too swiftly, too violently a tragic reminder of how fragile life becomes on Nigeria’s highways.
