By our Reporter
No fewer than 35 people including 15 children have reportedly lost their lives in a tragic motor accident while travelling to Saminaka in the Lere Local Government Area of Kaduna State to celebrate Eid-el-Maulud.
The accident occurred when a Peugeot J5 bus carrying the passengers collided head-on with another vehicle.
Confirming the incident on Monday, the Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Kaduna State, Corps Commander Kabiru Nadabo, said the driver of the J5 bus carrying 15 children lost control due to over speeding and then colluded with an oncoming articulated vehicle which resulted in the crash.
He said that 15 children out of the 63 on board the J5 bus died instantly, while 48 others sustained varying degrees of injuries.
Similarly, Mallam Abdullahi, one of the organisers of the Maulud celebration, spoke to journalists on Monday, explaining that the accident had disrupted their plans to celebrate the birth of the Holy Prophet Muhammad.
Abdullahi expressed sorrow as he revealed that approximately 35 injured victims were transported to a medical facility in neighbouring Plateau State for treatment. He also mentioned that another vehicle in their convoy had collided with a motorbike, resulting in additional fatalities and injuries.
“We had around 70 people, including women and children, in the convoy. It was a heartbreaking situation. The injured have been taken to JUTH in Jos for medical care,” Abdullahi said.