A severe road accident on the Sokoto–Yauri highway in Kebbi State has resulted in the deaths of 18 travellers from Sokoto State. The victims were returning home from Lagos after seeking employment when their 18-seater commercial bus collided head-on with a trailer around 11 pm on Monday.
Of the 20 people on board, only two survived with injuries. Bello Muhammad, a member of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, arrived at the scene shortly after the crash to help clear the wreckage. He reported that 18 passengers had already perished by the time help arrived. The victims’ remains were transported to the General Hospital in Yauri for identification and funeral preparations.
The deceased included the driver, Manniru Sabo, and various residents from local government areas across Sokoto State, including Yabo and Gada. Due to the severe damage to the bodies, some victims were interred in Yauri, while others were returned to their home communities for burial according to Islamic traditions. Alhaji Shehu Jabo, a witness who assisted with the aftermath, noted the extreme difficulty in identifying the victims due to the impact of the collision, which he attributed to the trailer veering into the bus’s lane.
Barrister Maidawa Kajiji, the Chairman of Shagari Local Government Area, confirmed the tragedy and extended his sympathies to the families affected by the loss.
