A tragic accident on the Batati/Lanle Road in Niger State has resulted in the deaths of eight farmers following a head-on collision between a Toyota Corolla and a tanker trailer.
The fatal crash occurred around 8 p.m. on Monday when the Toyota Corolla, reportedly speeding, attempted to overtake another vehicle and collided with the tanker, which was en route to Lagos to load fuel.
The victims, all farmers who had relocated from Niger Zone B to Dasu village in Lavun Local Government Area due to insecurity, were killed on the spot, their bodies crushed beyond recognition.
An eyewitness, speaking to The PUNCH on the condition of anonymity, described the scene as devastating.
“It was a terrible sight. All the victims were men of different age groups, and their bodies were crushed beyond recognition. Road Safety needs to caution drivers about overspeeding and overtaking recklessly on our roads,” the witness stated.
Assistant Commander of the Road Transport Employers’ Association of Nigeria, Kutigi Branch, Mohammed Sanusi, confirmed the accident and expressed deep sorrow over the incident.
“I was shocked by what I saw. The bodies were in a terrible state. Tears ran uncontrollably down my face. May God Almighty forgive their shortcomings,” Sanusi said.
He also commended the swift response of the Federal Road Safety Corps, the Red Cross, and RTEAN members in evacuating the victims’ remains from the crash site.
The farmers were laid to rest on Tuesday in Dasu village.
As of this report, there has been no official comment from the Niger State Government, the State Police Command, or the FRSC regarding the incident.
