The Federal Road Safety Corps confirmed that 18 people died in a road traffic accident on Tuesday along the Dutse–Kiyawa Highway at Dan Masara Quarters in Dutse, Jigawa.
The FRSC Corps Marshal, Malam Shehu Mohammed, said preliminary investigations showed that excessive speed and a tyre burst caused the driver to lose control, resulting in the fatal crash.
The accident involved two commercial Volkswagen Golf vehicles—one white, registration XA-500-KYW, and one red, registration RAN-836-XA—as well as an orange Mercedes-Benz tipper truck with registration BUU-289-XA.
A total of 20 persons were involved: eight male adults, eight female adults, two male children, and two female children. “Eighteen persons died, while two male adults sustained injuries, including bruises, fractures, internal injuries and head trauma,” Mohammed stated.
The emergency rescue team responded within five minutes of the distress call at 12:17 hours, evacuating the victims to Dutse General Hospital for medical attention.
Mohammed emphasised that the FRSC’s mandate prioritises crash prevention, traffic regulation enforcement, rescue coordination, and prompt evacuation. He noted that the corps collaborates with medical and other emergency institutions to save lives during road traffic emergencies.
Highlighting causes of fatal accidents, Mohammed warned that speed violations, poor vehicle maintenance, and worn or expired tyres remain major contributors. He advised motorists to adhere to speed limits, maintain their vehicles properly, and exercise caution at all times.
An immediate investigation into the crash has commenced to enhance emergency response, expand operational logistics, and improve road safety outcomes in line with global best practices.
Mohammed commiserated with the families of the deceased and called on all road users to take personal responsibility for safety, stressing that every crash prevented saves a life.
