A fatal crash on Friday morning claimed the lives of 12 people and left five others injured along the Zaria–Kano highway.
The accident occurred at Samawa Village in Garun Malam Local Government Area around 2:40 a.m. and involved a DAF Trailer CF95 (registration number KMC 931 ZE) loaded with goods, including Ajinomoto spices, and carrying passengers.
Kano State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), CC MB Bature, who visited the scene, said preliminary investigations indicated that a mechanical fault caused the trailer’s cab hook to break, detaching it from the trailer body and leading to loss of control.
Bature confirmed that out of 19 occupants, 12 died instantly, five sustained varying degrees of injuries, while two escaped unhurt. The injured were taken to Kura General Hospital, and the deceased were deposited at Nassarawa Hospital.
Describing the tragedy as “avoidable,” the Sector Commander warned against overloading passengers, goods, and animals in the same vehicle, stressing that such acts pose deadly risks.
He extended condolences to the victims’ families and wished the injured a speedy recovery, warning drivers to obey traffic regulations or face stiff penalties.