No fewer than three persons have been confirmed dead, while about 40 others sustained varying degrees of injuries after a canter truck rammed into people sitting by the roadside along the Gombe–Potiskum Road in Yobe State.
The accident occurred at about 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday near Badejo town in Potiskum Local Government Area, a busy section of the expressway known for heavy human and vehicular movement, especially on market days.
Eyewitnesses said the truck was travelling at high speed before the driver reportedly lost control and veered off the road, hitting people seated along the roadside.
Confirming the incident, the Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps in Yobe State, Paul Andrew, said the crash involved a canter vehicle that ploughed into civilians, resulting in multiple casualties.
“The crash occurred at about 2:30 p.m. near Badejo town along the Gombe–Potiskum expressway. It involved a canter vehicle that rammed into people sitting by the roadside,” Andrew said.
He added that preliminary investigations indicated overloading and overspeeding as the major causes of the accident.
“From our findings so far, the crash was caused by overloading and overspeeding. The driver lost control of the vehicle while navigating a busy section of the road,” he explained.
Andrew disclosed that the truck was heading towards the Potiskum cattle market on a market day, a period usually marked by increased traffic and roadside activities.
“The vehicle was coming to the Potiskum cattle market, and there was heavy movement of people and vehicles. Such conditions require extreme caution, but violations like overloading and speeding continue to claim lives,” he said.
He noted that FRSC operatives and other emergency responders promptly evacuated the injured to nearby hospitals for medical attention, while the deceased were taken away by rescue teams.
The sector commander also said the road was cleared shortly after the crash to prevent secondary accidents and appealed to motorists to adhere strictly to traffic regulations.
The Gombe–Potiskum Road is a major commercial route in the North-East and frequently records high traffic volumes, particularly during market days.
