Seven die, four injured in Yobe road crash – police
By Ahmed Isah
The Yobe State Police Command says a fatal motor accident along the Badejo axis in Potiskum has claimed seven lives and left four persons injured.
The command said in a statement by its Police Public Relations Officer, SP Dungus Abdulkarim, on Friday in Damaturu, that the accident occurred at about 4:30 p.m.
Abdulkarim said the accident involved a Sharon bus conveying passengers from Lawanti area of Akko Local Government Area of Gombe State to Maiduguri, Borno State.
He said preliminary investigation revealed that the vehicle, driven by Gambo Abbo, suffered a rear tyre burst while in motion, causing the driver to lose control before the bus veered off the road into the bush.
According to him, the driver and four passengers died on the spot, while six others sustained varying degrees of injuries.
The spokesperson said personnel of the Police Motor Traffic Department promptly evacuated the injured to the State Specialist Hospital, Potiskum, for treatment, while the corpses of the deceased were deposited at the hospital morgue.
He said two of the injured later died while receiving medical attention, bringing the total number of fatalities to seven.
Abdulkarim identified the deceased as Gambo Abbo, 35; Umalkhairi, 18; Rabiu Abubakar, 28; Fatuma Hassan, 28; Amal Abubakar, three; Adamu Bello, four; and Zarau Alhaji, 27.
He said efforts were ongoing to contact and formally notify the families of the deceased persons.
The statement quoted the Commissioner of Police in the state, Emmanuel Ado, as expressing condolences to the bereaved families and wishing the injured a speedy recovery.
It added that the commissioner cautioned motorists to adhere strictly to traffic regulations, avoid speeding and reckless driving, and ensure regular inspection of vehicles, especially tyres, brakes and steering systems.
According to him, strict compliance with safety measures remains critical to preventing avoidable road accidents across the state.
