Sallah Tragedy: Auto Accidents Took Lives of 12 in Zamfara

Yesterday, at the very end of Ramadan (Eid-el-Fitri) at least 10 people died yesterday while 24 others were injured in multiple accidents along major roads leading to Gusau, Zamfara State capital. At the same time two people were killed in another crash in Ogun State.The first accident occurred along Bungudu-Maru Road in Zamfara as a result of head-on collision involving Golf and Toyota cars where seven people died instantly, others sustained serious injuries.The second crash occurred along Damba, a few kilometres to the state capital where nine passengers of a vehicle were injured while a housewife, Malama Rabi from Biyabiki village in Tsafe Local Government Area died on the spot.According to a source, 19 passangers who were travelling in a bus along Maru town were involved in an accident.
Two people lost their lives with several others sustaining serious injuries. All the victims of the multiple accidents were on their way to meet up with the sallah celebration in their various towns and villages.The bodies have been deposited at the Federal Medical Centre, Gusau, while those injured were at various nearest hospitals. Spokesman of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Zamfara State command, Garba Lawal, confirmed the death of 10 people.The FRSC spokesman attributed the accidents to over-speeding and dangerous overtaking by drivers.Meanwhile, two people were killed while 12 others, including a pregnant woman, were injured during a fatal auto crash when two vehicles collided at Iperin area of Ijebu-Ode/Ibadan Road on Tuesday.The vehicles, a Toyota Serena bus marked SMK 760 AP and a Mercedes Benz lorry with registration number XV 353 MUS. The bus which took off from Ijebu-Ode was heading towards Ibadan before its front tyre bust, causing the driver to lose control.He had a head-on collision with the on-coming Mercedes Benz lorryThe driver and the passenger in front of the bus died immediately while passers- by rescued 16 other passengers in the two vehicles. They were taken to both Ijebu-Ode General Hospital and Roona Private Hospital in the town.One of the survivors, Rebecca John, said four members of her family were travelling to Ibadan to attend the convention of the Gospel Faith Mission International (GOFAMINT) when the accident occurred. Though weak, she said the victims were members of GOFAMINT in the Waterside area of the state.The Chief Medical Director, Ijebu-Ode General Hospital, Dr. Wellington Ogunsanya, confirmed the accident. -