Ghastly accident in Abuja claims lives of 8, including students
Not less than eight individuals, including students, lost their lives in a devastating accident when a tipper truck carrying sharp sand experienced brake failure in the vicinity of Mpape, near the Maitama District in Abuja.
The incident unfolded around 4 p.m. on Thursday, just before the Keke NAPEP Park, along the route leading to Mpape junction. According to eyewitness Mustapha Aminu, the truck collided with tricycles, commonly known as Keke, and other vehicles, resulting in the tragic deaths of at least eight people, including students.
In the aftermath of the accident, the truck’s driver, realizing the extent of the disaster, abandoned the vehicle and fled with the assistance of a motorcycle.
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Aminu provided an account of the incident, saying, “When the incident happened, I was close to the road. It was very damaging. It killed about eight people as I counted. People were saying the trailer brake failed. To me, what caused the incident at first was that one of the truck’s tires burst, which made it lose control.”
He further stated, “Nobody heard the horn from the truck, because sometimes when incidents like this happen, one would hear the horn from afar, then people would stay clear from the road. If the driver had done this, a lot of lives would have been saved.”
The impact of the accident was extensive, with more than seven tricycles (Keke) and several cars affected. Tragically, two students in one of the tricycles lost their lives instantly.
Confirming the incident, Chorrie Mutaa, the Sector Commander of the FCT, reported that their rescue team retrieved five deceased individuals and tended to 10 injured persons. He also disclosed that a total of 13 vehicles, including the truck responsible for the accident, and a motorcycle were involved in the collision.