No fewer than 12 people have lost their lives in a ghastly road crash in Niger state.
Trucks loaded with soybeans, benne seed, and passengers were involved in the accident which happened along Lambata-Agaie-Bida road.
The Niger State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Kumar Tsukwam, confirmed the accident.
He said it occurred on Saturday around 5am, 2km from the IBB University School of Remedial Studies, Agaie.
He said 12 people died on the spot while 10 others sustained severe injuries and were taken to Agaie General Hospital for medical attention.
Tsukwam said an accident involving two trucks loaded with soybeans and benne seeds and 75 people was heading to Lagos from the North.
He attributed the cause of the crash to wrongful overtaking, speed limit violation and loss of control.
The commander advised motorists to maintain maximum speed limit and avoid wrongful overtaking, especially during the festive period, to avoid loss of lives and property.
Residents said the accident was one of the many ghastly crashes in recent months due to the deplorable condition of the road.
The Chairman of Agaie Local Government, Ibrahim Halil Sayuti, said: “The situation of the road is also affecting the economic activities of the local government and its sister communities as that same road is the easiest route that links western Nigeria to northern states.”
Sayuti called on the federal government to speed up the ongoing construction so as to protect the lives and property of the people.
The funeral of the deceased persons, who were said to be from Jigawa, Kano and Katsina states was held in Agaie under the supervision of the Emir of Agaie, Alhaji Yusuf Nuhu, as most of them were said to have no mobile phones to establish contacts with their families.