The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has confirmed a fatal crash that occurred on Monday, 23 March 2026, within the Tafa axis of Niger State, resulting in the loss of ten (10) lives.
Felicia Kalu, Corps Commander
Acting Corps Public Education Officer, in a statement said the incident, which falls under the operational coverage of RS7.26A Tafa Outpost, highlights the grave consequences of non compliance with established safety regulations, particularly excessive speeding and the unlawful conveyance of passengers alongside goods.
The crash, which occurred at about 0820 hours along the Tafa–Gujeni route at Malam Tanko, involved a DAF tanker with registration number FKY136XD, conveying a total of thirty-three (33) male occupants. Preliminary investigations reveal that ten (10) persons lost their lives, twenty (20) sustained varying degrees of injuries, while three (3) were rescued unhurt.
Available evidence indicates that the crash was caused by excessive speed, which led to loss of control. More disturbing, however, is the fact that the vehicle was engaged in the highly dangerous and illegal act of mixed loading, transporting both goods and human beings in the same vehicle; a practice the Corps has consistently warned against due to its catastrophic consequences.
FRSC operatives responded promptly to the distress call, successfully rescuing 23 victims alive and clearing the obstruction to restore free flow of traffic. The injured victims were immediately evacuated to Umar Musa General Hospital, Sabon Wuse, for medical attention, while the remains of the deceased were deposited at the hospital’s mortuary.
The Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, expressed deep concern over the incident, describing it as avoidable and a painful reminder of the consequences of traffic violations. He reiterated that no journey is worth the loss of human lives and condemned in strong terms the continued disregard for safety advisories by some road users.
He further emphasised that the Corps will intensify enforcement and public enlightenment campaigns to curb excessive speeding and eradicate the menace of mixed loading across the nation’s highways.
To this end, transport operators and drivers are therefore strongly advised to comply with safety regulations, maintain prescribed speed limits, and desist from using inappropriate vehicles for passenger conveyance.
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The Corps Marshal extends his heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased and wishes the injured victims speedy recovery.
Members of the public are urged to remain safety conscious at all times, as road safety is a shared responsibility.
