Abuja, Nigeria — Seven persons feared dead after serious road accident at Dutse Tipper Garage Bus Stop on Saturday evening.
The crash involved one heavy-duty truck and several tricycles, known as Keke Napep. Eyewitnesses say the truck likely suffered brake failure, losing control and crashing into the waiting tricycles around 5 p.m.
Witness Emmanuel, who arrived at the scene shortly after the incident, spoke on the horrific situation. “The trailer came down the hill and hit the tricycles waiting for passengers. Many people died on the spot, and five tricycles were destroyed,” he recounted.
Emergency responders from the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) quickly arrived to evacuate casualties to hospitals. Videos from the scene showed bodies scattered amid mangled tricycles, with onlookers attempting to lift the wreckage off trapped victims.
Authorities had not released an official number of casualties at the time of this report, but multiple independent sources confirmed that seven lifeless bodies were recovered from the debris.
As medical teams rushed the injured to Gwarinpa and Kubwa hospitals, one unfortunate victim succumbed to a gunshot wound reportedly sustained during police efforts to disperse a large crowd gathered at the scene.
Eyewitness accounts indicated that the police reacted to the gathering by firing warning shots, which inadvertently struck a bystander. “They shot sporadically, and in the chaos, one boy got hit and later died in the health center,” Emmanuel said.
The police, however, denied these allegations. Josephine Adeh, the spokesperson for the FCT Police Command, stated, “No one was shot by a police officer. Our men were there to help manage the incident.”
She further noted that about seven individuals were reported dead but clarified that some died later in hospitals. A special protection unit associated with the police was mentioned as potentially responsible for the gunfire.
The Dutse Tipper Garage Bus Stop is notorious for accidents due to poor traffic management. Previous incidents at the location underscore a pattern of chaos, prompting concerns from local residents and commuters.
As investigations continue into the crash, officials urge the public to take road safety seriously to prevent similar tragedies.
