Twenty people have been killed in a multiple-vehicle road accident along the Hawan Kibo Road in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State.
The accident, which occurred on Friday evening, involved a truck, a Hummer bus carrying passengers, other vehicles and a motorcycle.
The truck was said to have lost its brakes and rammed into other vehicles travelling towards Jos.
The impact reportedly caused the Hummer bus to catch fire, killing 18 passengers trapped inside, while two other persons riding a motorcycle involved in the crash also died at the scene.
Confirming the incident in a telephone interview with Channels Television, the Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in the state, Corps Commander Adelaja Ogungbemi, said the crash was caused by brake failure on the truck.
“The crash happened in the evening of Friday. It was as a result of brake failure from the truck, which rammed into other vehicles heading towards Jos,” Ogungbemi said.
He added that personnel of the FRSC had been deployed to the scene to manage the situation, clear the road and evacuate the victims.
“Our men have been deployed to the scene and are working hard to clear the traffic and ensure that the corpses of the deceased are deposited at the appropriate hospitals,” he added.
The FRSC commander urged motorists to prioritise regular vehicle maintenance and avoid speeding, stressing that proper checks could help prevent avoidable crashes on the nation’s roads.
He advised drivers to ensure that their vehicles are in good mechanical condition before embarking on journeys, particularly on busy highways.
The incident occurred months after a multiple-vehicle accident on the Ibadan end of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway claimed at least five lives and left eight people with varying degrees of injuries.
In April, the Ogun State Sector Command of the FRSC confirmed three deaths following a fatal multiple-vehicle traffic collision that occurred at the Onipepeye axis of the Abeokuta–Sagamu Road in Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of the state, while seven others sustained injuries.
