Rita Odafe
A devastating accident in Hawan Kibo, located in the Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State, led to the death of nineteen individuals, including five members of the Nigerian Airforce.
The bus was traveling from Adamawa State to Abuja when it crashed into a parked trailer that was being serviced on the roadside, shortly after 9:00 PM on the night of the incident.
Witness Christopher Maju attributed the crash to brake failure. He recounted, “It was dark, and many vehicles were halted at a military checkpoint. Suddenly, a bus approached rapidly, and we heard the passengers yelling, ‘No brake, no brake!’”
“In an effort to avoid hitting the long line of traffic, the bus driver lost control and veered off the road, ultimately colliding with a stationary trailer, resulting in the immediate deaths of eighteen people. One survivor passed away while being transported to the hospital,” he added.
Peter Yakubu, spokesperson for the Federal Road Safety Corps in Plateau State, confirmed the fatalities. He stated that the victims’ remains were promptly taken to the hospital’s morgue.
“No one survived the incident; even the one taken to the hospital succumbed to injuries. Eighteen died on-site, and the accident was caused by brake failure. This is truly tragic,” Yakubu reported.
In response to this calamity, Plateau State Governor Barr. Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang offered his heartfelt condolences to the families affected, including those connected to the Nigerian Air Force and the Adamawa State Government.
Through a statement from his Director of Press and Public Affairs, Gyang Bere, Governor Mutfwang described the collision’s cause as a heartbreaking setback, particularly because of the loss of everyone on board, including the Air Force personnel. He also expressed hope that such sorrowful events would not occur again.
