By Muhammad Nasir Bashir
Dutse, Dec. 30, 2025
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has confirmed a devastating road traffic accident in Jigawa State, where 18 individuals, including children, lost their lives. The crash, which underscores a persistent and tragic pattern on Nigerian roads, occurred on Tuesday in the Dutse Local Government Area.
Corps Route Commander Yahaya Ibrahim, the FRSC spokesperson for Jigawa State, provided detailed information in a statement. The collision involved two Volkswagen Golf cars and a tipper (a heavy-duty truck used for hauling materials) and took place at approximately 12:15 p.m. near Danmasara village on the Dutse-Kwanar Huguma road.
Deeper Context: The Fatal Sequence
Commander Ibrahim attributed the cause to a deadly triad: excessive speeding, a tyre burst, and subsequent loss of control. This sequence is alarmingly common. A vehicle traveling at high speed experiences a sudden tyre failure, which can violently destabilize the vehicle. The driver, often caught by surprise, may overcorrect the steering, leading to a complete loss of control and a catastrophic collision, especially when multiple vehicles are involved. The inclusion of a tipper in the crash significantly increased the potential for severe damage and fatalities due to its massive weight and size disparity with the passenger cars.
The Human Toll
Out of the 20 people involved, 18 perished at the scene. The only survivors were the tipper driver and his assistant, both of whom sustained injuries. FRSC rescue teams promptly transported the injured and the deceased to the Dutse General Hospital. The presence of children among the victims adds a profound layer of tragedy to the incident, highlighting how road crashes indiscriminately affect all segments of society.
A Disturbing Pattern Emerges
This tragedy is not an isolated event. The report notes that just five days prior, on Christmas Day (Dec. 25), the FRSC confirmed another fatal crash on the Ringim-Sankara-Beguwa road in the Ringim local government area of the same state. That incident, a lone crash involving a Volkswagen car, claimed 11 lives and injured 12 others. Critically, it was caused by the exact same factors: tyre burst and excessive speeding.
Beyond the Headlines: Systemic Issues and Preventative Measures
The repetition of these causes points to systemic road safety challenges. They include:
- Vehicle Maintenance: The prevalence of tyre bursts often relates to poor tyre condition—using expired, under-inflated, over-inflated, or over-loaded tyres, especially on long journeys in high temperatures.
- Speed Culture: Excessive speeding remains a leading killer, reducing reaction time and exponentially increasing crash energy.
- Road Infrastructure & Enforcement: While not mentioned here, road conditions and consistent enforcement of traffic laws are crucial components of a safe transportation ecosystem.
Actionable Advice for Motorists:
To mitigate such risks, drivers must:
• Conduct pre-journey tyre checks for pressure, tread depth, and signs of damage or aging.
• Observe speed limits and adjust speed for road and weather conditions.
• Ensure vehicles are properly serviced and not overloaded.
• For commercial operators, implementing compulsory rest periods for drivers is vital to combat fatigue.
This heartbreaking loss of 18 lives, following closely on another major crash, serves as a stark and urgent reminder of the critical importance of road safety. It calls for reinforced efforts from individuals, transport operators, and government agencies to address the preventable causes behind these recurring tragedies.
Source: News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)
Edited by Modupe Adeloye/Bayo Sekoni
