The Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Shehu Mohammed, has tagged as not only avoidable and preventable, but highly condemnable, the fatal crash that occurred in Mairuwa, on the Funtua-Sokoto route, Katsina State on Saturday 9 November 2024 at 1100HRS. 

This, according to him is because, if the driver had observed established legal speed limits, ensured adequate vehicle maintenance and complied with traffic regulations, the crash would have been avoided.

While sighting instances of how bad driving behaviours led to avoidable road crashes in recent times, the Corps Marshal maintained that if drivers do the right thing, issues relating to crashes and fatalities will be a thing of the past in Nigeria.

He stated that the enormous responsibility of keeping the roads safe rests on the shoulders of everyone, as such, called on transport Unions, fleet operators and other vehicle owners to sensitise their drivers on the imperatives of ensuring routine and regular maintenance of their vehicles.

The Mairuwa crash involved a Toyota Hiace Bus with registration number MRR 83 XA that loaded passengers from Zamfara, heading to the Southern part of the country and had a tyre burst in Mairuwa village. The tyre burst eventually led to loss of control as the driver rammed head-on onto a Sino Truck belonging to Dangote Group.

Report of rescue operations conducted indicates that a total of 28 people were involved comprising of 23 male adults, 1 female adult, 1 male child, and 3 female children. From the number, 13 victims (11 male adults, 1 female adult, and 1 male child) were rescued with varying injuries. 

While 15 victims comprising of 11 male adults,1 female adult and 3 female children were killed. Most of the casualties are passengers of the bus. 

The rescued victims have been taken to Funtua General Hospital for immediate medical attention.