No fewer than 11 persons have been confirmed dead with over 50 persons injured in an accident along Maiyama/Koko Road in the Koko-Besse Local Government Area of Kebbi State on Monday.
Confirming the development, the Kebbi State Police Command, in a statement by its spokesman, SP Nafiu Abubabar, and made available to newsmen on Tuesday, said about 65 passengers were involved in the accident.
The statement read, “On November 27, 2023, around 6 am, there was a fatal motor vehicle accident along Maiyama/Koko Road, involving a DAF Trailer with number plate SKK837X driven by a yet-to-be-identified driver, conveying passengers, bags of onions, bags of beans and six motorcycles and travelling from Goronyo LGA of Sokoto State to Niger State.
“On reaching a point near Dada village, Koko/Besse Local Government Area, the driver lost control of the vehicle as the truck head suddenly severed from the body.
“Consequently, the truck head alone swerved into the bush. As a result, 65 passengers, all males from Sokoto State, including the driver sustained various degrees of serious injuries.
“On receipt of the accident report, a team of traffic policemen from Koko Division rushed to the scene and removed the victims to General Hospital in Koko, where a medical doctor confirmed 11 dead, while the remaining victims are currently responding to treatment.”
The statement further said the state Commissioner of Police, Chris Aimionowane, warned drivers to avoid overloading and speeding.