In a devastating accident on the Lapai-Agaie-Bida Federal Highway in Niger State, no fewer than 14 passengers lost their lives when a Toyota Hiace bus collided head-on with a DAF tanker on Saturday, February 22, 2025.
The Niger State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Kumar Tsukwam, confirmed the tragic incident, attributing it to excessive speeding and reckless overtaking.
The accident, which occurred at 10:59 AM between Kusobogi and Nami, involved a Toyota Hiace bus traveling from Minna to Agaie and a tanker heading from Lagos to Kaduna. According to the FRSC, the driver of the Hiace bus attempted to overtake another vehicle at high speed, leading to a head-on collision with the oncoming tanker.
Casualties and Emergency Response
The impact was catastrophic, resulting in the instant deaths of 14 passengers, including:
Five females
One male child
Eight males
Additionally, six male passengers sustained severe injuries and were immediately rushed to the General Hospital in Lapai for emergency medical attention.
Rescue teams, including FRSC officers and first responders, swiftly evacuated the injured while the bodies of the deceased were deposited at the hospital morgue.
Expressing deep concern over the rising cases of fatal road accidents, Sector Commander Tsukwam urged motorists to strictly adhere to road safety regulations, avoid reckless driving, and ensure proper vehicle maintenance to prevent future tragedies.
This latest accident underscores the urgent need for stricter enforcement of traffic laws, heightened road safety awareness, and improved highway conditions to reduce the growing toll of lives lost to preventable crashes.
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