Seven travellers have died in a fatal road crash on the Bida-Kutigi road in Niger, says the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC). The FRSC Niger Sector Commander, Corps Commander Aishatu Sa’adu, confirmed the incident to the News Agency of Nigeria on Sunday. Sa’adu said the crash occurred on Sunday afternoon at Shebe village, a few kilometres from Kutigi town. She said the accident involved a Mazda vehicle and a Siena bus travelling along the Bida-Kutigi road.
“Seven people lost their lives, seven others were injured while four were rescued without injuries, bringing the total involved to 18,” she said. The sector commander said seven victims died at the scene, while seven others sustained injuries of varying degrees. She said the injured victims were evacuated to Kutigi General Hospital for medical attention. According to Sa’adu, the remains of the deceased were also deposited at the mortuary of Kutigi General Hospital.
The incident has again highlighted the dangers faced by motorists and passengers using the Bida-Kutigi road, particularly when travelling between major communities. The road has been the scene of several fatal accidents in recent years, raising questions about its condition and the safety standards of vehicles using it. Authorities are expected to investigate the cause of the crash and establish the circumstances that led to the fatal collision.
This echoes the 2021 fatal crashes on the Bida-Kutigi road, which also claimed multiple lives. The mechanism then was different, but the result was the same: a tragedy that could have been prevented.
The winners: none. The losers: the families of the seven deceased; the seven injured victims; and the Nigerian road safety system, which has failed to prevent another tragedy.
Bottom Line: Seven are dead and seven injured on the Bida-Kutigi road. The question is whether the authorities will investigate the cause or let another tragedy pass without action.