A tragic road accident involving a Toyota Corolla and a tanker trailer has claimed the lives of at least eight farmers in Niger State.
The collision occurred around 8 PM on Monday night along Batati/Lanle Road, en route to Kutigi in Lavun Local Government Area. The speeding Toyota Corolla reportedly attempted to overtake another vehicle but crashed into an oncoming tanker trailer heading to Lagos to load fuel.
Sources revealed that the victims were farmers who had relocated from Niger Zone B to Dasu village in Lavun Local Government Area due to insecurity in their former community.
A witness, who preferred anonymity, recounted the horrifying scene. “It was a terrible sight. All the victims were crushed beyond recognition. The road safety corps must intensify campaigns against speeding and reckless overtaking,” he said.
Witnesses and Officials React
Mohammed Sanusi, Assistant Commander of the Road Transport Employee Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), Kutigi branch, confirmed the incident. He expressed shock at the condition of the victims, stating, “Tears ran down my eyes uncontrollably. May God forgive them their shortcomings.”
He credited officers of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Red Cross, and RTEAN for their efforts in evacuating and retrieving the bodies, which were later buried in Dasu village on Tuesday.to