At least three people have died and around 40 others were injured after a canter truck lost control and rammed into individuals sitting by the roadside along the Gombe–Potiskum Road in Yobe State.
The accident occurred at approximately 2:30 pm on Wednesday near Badejo town in Potiskum Local Government Area, a busy section of the expressway.
Eyewitnesses reported that the truck was travelling at high speed before veering off and striking those seated along the roadside.
The Yobe State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Paul Andrew, confirmed the incident in a phone interview with PUNCH.
“The crash happened around 2:30 pm near Badejo town along the Gombe–Potiskum expressway. A canter vehicle ran into people sitting by the roadside, resulting in multiple casualties,” Andrew said.
Preliminary investigations indicate that overloading and speeding were the primary causes of the accident.
“Our findings so far show that the canter was overloaded and moving at excessive speed. The driver lost control while navigating this busy stretch, which tragically led to both fatalities and injuries,” he added.
The FRSC Commander explained that the vehicle was en route to the Potiskum cattle market on a busy market day.
“The canter was heading to Potiskum cattle market where there was heavy pedestrian and vehicular traffic. Such conditions require extra caution, but overloading and speeding continue to be major issues,” he said.
Andrew also described the response from emergency teams: “The injured were quickly transported to nearby hospitals, while the deceased were evacuated by our operatives. Our teams also cleared the road to prevent further accidents. We urge all drivers to avoid overloading and speeding, particularly on market days, as these actions often result in unnecessary loss of life.”
The Gombe–Potiskum Road is a key commercial route in Nigeria’s North-East and experiences heavy movement during market days, increasing the risk of such accidents.
Road accidents continue to rise across Nigeria, with overspeeding, overloading, and reckless driving often cited as leading causes by the Federal Road Safety Corps.
Can stricter penalties curb dangerous driving on Nigeria’s expressways? Share your thoughts in the comments.
