12 dead, 30 injured in Plateau road accident
On Thursday, at least 12 individuals were tragically killed, and 30 others sustained injuries in a trailer accident at Hawan-Kibo community in the Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State.
The incident involved an articulated vehicle loaded with both bags of grains and passengers, descending a hill on a deteriorated road when it collided into a ditch.
Eyewitnesses recounted that the trailer, departing from Jos, spilled its cargo into the ditch upon crashing, resulting in the immediate loss of many lives.
Mr. Godwin Alphonsus, the Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps in Plateau state, confirmed the occurrence to PUNCH Online in Jos, emphasizing that it was a solitary accident. He explained that the trailer, grappling with a brake failure, veered into a ditch while climbing a hill, with the incident unfolding in the afternoon on Thursday.
“Since then, our team in Hawan-Kibo has been making efforts to rescue the victims. Based on the current information, 11 individuals lost their lives at the scene, while 30 others have been rescued and transported to the hospital.
Unfortunately, I received news this evening that one of the injured victims has also passed away, bringing the total number of fatalities to 12.”
The sector commander urged motorists to exercise increased caution while driving. He emphasized the need to discourage the practice of loading vehicles designed for carrying goods with human passengers simultaneously. “We consistently advise against transporting people along with goods.
This practice is highly perilous, and people should refrain from boarding such vehicles for their safety,” he cautioned.