At least 36 people died in a bus collision in northern Nigeria’s Kaduna state, according to local media.
The bus was transporting Muslim worshippers to the Eid-el-Maulud celebration, a Muslim festival marking the birth of the Prophet Muhammad.
The incident occurred in the Lere area when the bus collided with an oncoming truck.
Emergency services rushed to the scene, but a majority of the passengers were pronounced dead at the site.
One of the organizers of the Maulud celebration, Malam Abdullahi, said the accident has disrupted their plans.
“We had around 70 people, including women and children, in our entourage. I personally counted the victims. It was a heartbreaking scene,” he said.
According to him, the injured, numbering over 35, have been taken to the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH) in nearby Plateau State for medical treatment.
Fatal road collisions are very common in Nigeria. Both drivers and passengers have been known to flout safety measures, which are loosely enforced by the authorities.
More than 1,470 people died in road collisions across Nigeria in the first quarter of 2024, official statistics show.
Peoplesmind
