A fatal road accident has claimed one life and six people hospitalized in Damagum town, Fune Local Government Area of Yobe State.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Yobe State Command, SP Dungus Abdulkarim, disclosed this in a statement issued on Wednesday, stating that the accident involved a trailer with registration number MUS 791 XH, which was traveling from Damaturu to Lagos State.
“Preliminary investigation revealed that upon reaching a point within the city of Damagum, the driver lost control of the vehicle and collided with a Mitsubishi Canter in front of him, with eighteen occupants, with registration number AA 641 PKM, driven by Usman Muhammad 40, of Yaskawel Village.
“As a result, several passengers suffered injuries of varying degrees, while Dahiru Maikudi, 40, from Yaskawel, was medically examined and certified dead at Damagum General Hospital. Six victims were subsequently referred to the Teaching Hospital for further medical care,” the PPRO said.
According to SP Abdulkarim, following the incident, angry youths took to the streets to protest what they described as incessant road accidents, which have claimed many lives.
“Police officers immediately intervened and peacefully dispersed the crowd to prevent criminal elements from taking advantage of the situation,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, CP Emmanuel Ado, who commiserated with the family of the deceased and sympathized with the injured, directed the divisional police officer to collaborate with the local government authorities to develop a lasting solution to prevent future occurrences.
The CP further called on motorists to obey traffic rules, avoid excessive speed and drive with caution when approaching cities or crowded places, warning that anyone violating traffic laws will be held responsible and prosecuted decisively.
He also urged the public to avoid carrying out market activities near the road to reduce the risk of accidents.