Road Traffic Crashes (RRC) has claimed the lives of 63 persons in three states within 48 hours.
In Niger State, an auto crash claimed the lives of 24 people on Monday night in Lavun Local Government Area of the state.
The truck conveying the passengers was heading to Lagos from Zaria with 87 persons on board.
According to the sector commander of the Niger State Sector of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Kumar Tsukwan, who made this known in a copy of first accident report, the accident occurred in Etsu woro village.
“Twenty-four passengers travelling from Zaria to Lagos died in an auto crash involving a truck carrying 87 people at Etsu woro village in Lavun local government area of Niger state.”
He said that the accident, which was a lone accident, occurred at 10:10pm along Bida-Mokwa Road.
Tsukwan said that 17 males, 4 females and 4 children died in the lone Sino truck accident adding that 45 others were injured and taken to the hospital for treatment.
He also stated that the corpses have been deposited in the mortuary.
“The victims were evacuated from the site of the accident to the general hospital in Kutigi for medical attention while the corpse were deposited at the mortuary in Kutigi “.
In another similar development, tragedy struck on Monday in the Dass local government area of Bauchi State as four persons died in an auto crash.
Mr Yusuf Abdullahi, Sector Commander, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Bauchi State, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday that five other persons sustained serious injuries in the crash.
He said the lone accident involved a green commercial Ford Galaxy vehicle with nine passengers on board.
“Nine persons were involved in the fatal road crash and they were eight male adults and one female adult.
“Four male adults lost their lives on the spot, while five others — four male adults and one female adult — sustained varying degrees of serious injuries,” he said.
Abdullahi, who attributed the crash to a burst tyre and loss of control, said it occurred 10.30 a.m.
He said that it took the corps barely 15 minutes to arrive at the crash scene to clear the site.
The sector commander said that both the injured and the corpses of the deceased were taken to the General Hospital, Dass for treatment and confirmation.
He advised motorists to always be conscious of traffic rules and regulations while plying the roads.
Also, 35 persons were killed in two auto crashes that occurred in Kebbi on Sunday and on Monday.
FRSC Sector Commander in the state, Mr Yusuf Aliyu-Haruna, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Binrin Kebbi on Tuesday that 40 other persons sustained varying degrees of injuries in the accidents.
He added that three vehicles were involved in the two crashes.
“Twelve persons lost their lives in the accident that occurred on Kalgo-Bunza Road on Sunday involving two vehicles.
“On Monday, 23 persons lost their lives while travelling in a truck carrying assorted grains from Illela to Ibadan on Jega-Koko Road.
“Injured victims were taken to General Hospitals in Kalgo and Jega Local Government Areas,’’ he said.
Aliyu-Haruna attributed the accidents to overloading, over-speeding and use of expired tyres.
He cautioned motorists, especially commercial vehicle drivers against excessive speeding and use of expired tyres so as to ensure safety on the highways.
The sector commander advised motorists against the consumption of illicit substances and urged passengers to support the crusade against reckless driving in Kebbi.
Meanwhile, the FRSC says it has begun nation wide clampdown on road traffic violators.
The agency spokesman, DCM Bisi Kazeem said on Tuesday that the Corps Marshal, Dauda Ali Biu, decried the continuous violation of traffic rules and regulations by some drivers, adding that their recklessness on highways had destroyed properties and loss of lives.
According to him, Biu has also ordered a nationwide clampdown on such violators.
