Twenty people have died in a multiple-vehicle crash along the Hawan Kibo Road in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State.
The fatal accident occurred on Friday evening and involved a truck, a Hummer bus conveying passengers, other vehicles and a motorcycle.
The truck reportedly suffered brake failure while travelling towards Jos, causing the driver to lose control and crash into other vehicles on the highway.
The collision triggered a fire that engulfed the Hummer bus, killing 18 passengers who were trapped inside. Two other people travelling on a motorcycle also died in the crash.
Confirming the incident, the Plateau State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Corps Commander Adelaja Ogungbemi, said the crash was caused by brake failure from the truck.
“The crash happened in the evening of Friday. It was as a result of brake failure from the truck, which rammed into other vehicles heading towards Jos,” Ogungbemi said.
He said FRSC personnel had been deployed to the scene to control traffic, clear the highway and evacuate the victims.
“Our men have been deployed to the scene and are working hard to clear the traffic and ensure that the corpses of the deceased are deposited at the appropriate hospitals,” he added.
Ogungbemi urged motorists to ensure regular maintenance of their vehicles and avoid speeding, noting that proper mechanical checks could help prevent road crashes.
He also advised drivers to confirm that their vehicles are in good working condition before embarking on journeys, particularly when travelling on busy highways.
The Plateau crash comes months after another multiple-vehicle accident on the Ibadan end of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, which claimed at least five lives and left eight others injured.
In April, the Ogun State Command of the FRSC also confirmed three deaths in a multiple-vehicle collision at the Onipepeye axis of the Abeokuta-Sagamu Road in Obafemi Owode Local Government Area, with seven others sustaining injuries.
